SE7EN: SL6TH
2 Thessalonians 3:6-14
June 22, 2008
Alright, we are coming down to the final two deadly sins. They are deadly practices and lifestyles because they lead us to destruction and trash the community formed in Jesus. And this one is no different: sloth. Sloth is more than laziness. It is lack of working for the betterment of the community: both the community of the body of Christ and the community at large. Basically, it is the failure to make a contribution to make the lives of people around you better. Which is what ministry and service is all about. This is also called stewardship.
In a few places, the writers of the bible use creation as a model for being a good steward of the world around us. Ants, birds, bees (“busy as a bee”), and the like are lifted up as examples of how God has ordered his world. For example, Proverbs 30:24 says, “Ants are creatures of little strength, yet they store up their food in the summer.” They work all summer to store up food for the winter. Reminds me of a story.
A man was driving down the road. Because of the high price of gas, he usually just put five or ten dollars of gas in his tank here and there as he needed to go somewhere. Except this time, he found himself out of money and then out of gas.
A bee flew up to the window and to the man’s amazement, the bee actually talked (sort of like the Bee Movie). “What seems to be the problem?” asked the bee.
“I’m out of money and out of gas,” answered the man.
The bee told him to wait and he would be right back with help. Minutes later he watched as a huge swarm of bees flew up and flew straight down into his gas tank. After a few minutes, the bees flew out.
“Try it now,” said the original bee.
The car started right up. Now the man was totally blown away.
“What did you put in the gas tank?” asked the man.
The bee answered…BP. (See the picture above)
This morning we are going to look at 2 Thessalonians 3:6-14. This is the second letter that Paul wrote to the church Thessalonica to encourage them and instruct them on some issues that have developed in their community since Paul has left them. One of the themes in these letters is the idea of work specifically working for the Lord. We must understand that faith and works or grace and works run hand in hand. We are saved by the grace of God but this does not mean that we have a free ticket do nothing. It means that as we live according to the teachings of Jesus and live as people of the kingdom, we will be serving and working for God. Let’s read.
In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command you, brothers, to keep away from every brother who is idle and does not live according to the teaching you received from us. For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example. We were not idle when we were with you, nor did we eat anyone’s food without paying for it. On the contrary, we worked night and day, laboring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you. We did this, not because we do not have the right to such help, but in order to make ourselves a model for you to follow. For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: "If a man will not work, he shall not eat."
We hear that some among you are idle. They are not busy; they are busybodies. Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the bread they eat. And as for you, brothers, never tire of doing what is right.
If anyone does not obey our instruction in this letter, take special note of him. Do not associate with him, in order that he may feel ashamed. Yet do not regard him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother.
Some people concluded that Jesus was going to come again soon, they didn’t need to work and do their daily chores. Instead they went from house to house gossiping about this person and that person. Let’s summarize what Paul is saying.
Summary
• Idleness (and here I am saying this is a synonym for being slothful) goes against the teachings of Paul and Jesus.
Jesus said in the sermon to store up for ourselves treasures in heaven not on earth. While we are not to be consumed with our work and labors, God does expect us to work.
• Paul modeled a lifestyle of work.
• If one doesn’t work, then one doesn’t eat.
• Working is a way of doing what is right.
• Not working leads to temptation if not sin. They are busybodies.
• Physical limitations are taken into account. If anyone does not obey implies that if anyone refuses to work is making a choice. Those who would be unable to work, such as the paralytics and maybe widows, would still be taken care of.
So what is the overarching principle here? We need to remember a few of things. First, people especially in the early church lived in very close, tight-knit communities. They shared living space. They shared their lives. We miss out on this by the way our lives and homes are structured.
Secondly, each person contributed to the life of the community. Often people gathered daily for worship. They saw each other throughout the day. They ate meals together. They worked together.
Thirdly, vocation or work was seen as ministry. Paul worked as a tentmaker to not be a burden (even though he said that he would be justified not doing the work that he did and only did ministry) and to model a hard working lifestyle. He definitely considered his work to be a ministry opportunity. He saw his work as a means to communicate what he believed. He saw work as an opportunity to tell people about Jesus.
The early Church of God reformers lived together and worked together much in the same way. The Gospel Trumpet family was what they called themselves. As many as three hundred people lived, worked, played, worshipped and ate together. They came together to publish materials that would be used to spread the gospel and teach others what the Church of God believed. They also traveled together to hold revivals and minister to people. These traveling bands of people both men and women were called the “flying messengers.”
So the overarching principle is this:
Contribute to the work of God and the life of the community.
If you don’t, Paul would say, you don’t eat. You shouldn’t be enjoying the benefits of other people’s contributions if you aren’t making a contribution yourself. I believe this applies to the body life of a congregation as well as to our community at large.
We have seen how all the deadly sins thus far permeate our culture. Sloth is no different. It shows up in what I call the “entitlement mentality.” This means I want everything for nothing. “I deserve it. I am entitled.” Now we could spend all day here but we can’t.
I say this because I am convinced that this shows up in church as well. We all come to a church with expectations. God will do this. The church does this program. Whatever. When we don’t get out of it what we think that we deserve (based maybe on what I put in), then we question the value (notice the financial terminology) of our experience.
Except I have to wonder if this isn’t a subtle form of sloth. Paul seems to be indicating working and laboring and serving to such a radical extent (day and night, laboring and toiling) that it becomes not about what I deserve to get or the food that I should eat. It becomes about how much I can give. Paul’s contribution then becomes more about a sacrifice of love for the betterment of others. That is his example that he models.
He tells the church at Philippi that even he is being poured out like a drink offering, he will keep doing (working) what God has called him to do. A drink offering is an old type of sacrifice (act of worship) in which a glass of wine would be poured into the sacrifice of meat and grain to symbolize the presence of God and the fellowship that one enjoys in worship. Some might see it as being wasted. It is sacrificed because no human enjoys it. Paul doesn’t care whether or not people respond or what return that he does or does not get. Even if his efforts are poured out and wasted and everyone rejects him, his teachings, and Jesus, it doesn’t matter because getting a good return is not the point of a sacrifice of love.
Here are a few examples for you to consider.
• Worship
I firmly believe that each and every person makes a contribution to worship. When we miss worship (which could be because we were physically absent or just mentally), we shortchange God and the rest of the body. Singing even when you don’t think that you can or don’t feel like it. Giving. Greeting. Simply showing up to seek the presence of God makes a dynamic contribution to the life of the worshipping community.
God inhabits the praises of his people. He is present. The point is not what I get from an experience or even if I am going to get a good return from my efforts or my money. It is what I can sacrifice that goes beyond what I deserve. What I can contribute.
I know a guy that just doesn’t want to go to worship at a church because he doesn’t get as much from the teaching as he does through the TV preachers. This is not something you “get” through TV preachers. This can be more of a reflection of what I get out of something rather than what I give. This is why I believe this stuff that we talking about is slothful.
• Service
Being a part of ministry opportunities. With each person playing their part is essential for the body. Whether it is a program or event like the community picnic or movie nights or kid’s day OR whether it is those impromptu moments such as funeral dinners (great job to all who helped out with providing food for the Beebes—I was blessed by the love that was poured out and I didn’t have a bite to eat).
Sometimes our presence can be a major contribution into the life of others and the life the community. Erin was a part of the All City Sing, which was choir made up of students from all over the city. There was a girl who was devastated because no one had come to see her sing. And no one was there to take her home. It broke my heart.
Sometimes being at events or ministry moments can contribute in ways that we have no idea about. There have been a couple of movies at our movie nights that I really didn’t want to either see or see again. Honestly, if I wasn’t the pastor, I probably wouldn’t have gone. But perhaps my attitude was wrong. I really wasn’t looking at what I could contribute. Who could I encourage? Who could I pour out a sacrifice of love into?
A third area of contribution:
• Job
Here I want us to remember that when we work for money or volunteer, this is the opportunity to work for the Lord and to make life better for others. Making a contribution is more than just doing the job.
We went to the dollar theater while on vacation as we were getting our popcorn. The guy who was getting asked another young fellow who was just coming on to get some ice. This second guy didn’t seem to happy about it and didn’t really want to do it. The first guy said, “Hey if it wasn’t for me, you wouldn’t be here today.” Then later when I went to get a refill the second guy was manning the counter but was talking to somebody obviously a friend and not a customer and he acted like I was inconveniencing him by getting a refill. If God desires more from us than just doing a job, then that young man’s attitude seems slothful to me. God wants us to contribute to the lives of others.
Those in recovery groups talk about seeing what he or she can “pack into the stream of life.” Many addicts and alcoholics initially think of themselves as pretty good people who help others but just need to cut back drinking. If there are problems, they happen because of other people. Yet as one works through the 12 steps, one begins to see how selfish and self-centered we are and how God has created us to be self-giving. What can I do make life better for others? What can I do at this moment? What can I pour into life? How can I make a contribution into the life of people at this moment?
This is the way I see it. Anytime I don’t use whatever it is that God has given me—time, abilities, money, stuff, my work, and even my presence—to the benefit of others, then I am being slothful.
Imagine what a church might be like if everyone would seek to reject a slothful attitude and contribute sacrificially into the life of the community. Do you think people would see a difference? Imagine what a community or city would be like. Imagine the difference it would make into the quality of life if everyone looked not to one’s own interest but to the interest of others. Imagine then what a different world it would be. This is the kingdom that began with Jesus made possible by his sacrifice to free us from our past, our baggage, our sins, our mistakes so that we could participate in the kingdom life that God offers us. One day the kingdom will come completely when Jesus comes again. This doesn’t mean that we stop working but we continue to faithfully work with God as partners to show the world the love of Jesus and that God has a better of living, of life, which is life in the kingdom.
