“A Word For The Lazy”
2 Thessalonians 3:6-18
INTRODUCTION: Have you ever been lazy? You just didn’t want to do anything but sit around, watch TV, eat or sleep? There’s PHYSICAL LAZINESS … and there’s also MENTAL LAZINESS, where you just don’t want to think about anything too deep … where you let your mind wander off into outer space (my kids used to do this a lot!).
In 2 Thessalonians Chapter 3, we find SPIRITUAL LAZINESS … where some Christians had quit their jobs and were just waiting for Jesus to return. They were sponging off the generosity of the other Christians to meet their daily needs … expecting the church to support them.
SIGNS IN AN OFFICE:
“Work fascinates me; I can sit & watch it for hours!”
“The worst day of fishing is better than the best day of working.”
“Hard work may not kill me, but why take a chance?”
BUMPER STICKER: “I owe, I owe, so off to work I go.”
Paul had told them to WAIT for the Lord (He could come at any time) … but he didn’t mean for them to be IDLE – 1 Thess. 1:10
Paul had warned them to get busy while they were waiting – 1 Thess. 4:11
They thought that they were more spiritual than those who continued on with their daily life … they were busy designing time charts … in spite of the warning of Jesus - Matthew 24:36
"But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone.”
They were OBSESSED with the Rapture … pre-occupied with the coming of Jesus … FANATICS. HOW DO FANATICS ACT? Like, if you aren’t on the same page as they are, you are spiritually inferior.
They apparently hadn’t heeded Paul’s warning – 2 Thess. 3:11
WHEN DID MAN FIRST BEGIN TO WORK?
Some people believe that WORK is part of the CURSE given after the fall of Adam & Eve. Not so! Genesis 2:15 – “Then the Lord God took the man and put him into the garden of Eden to cultivate it and keep it.”
Work was designed by God as a necessary part of human life. “Work” became WORK (hard labor) after the fall, when thorns & thistles were introduced (Genesis 3:17-19).
“God designed man to be a gardener, but the Fall made him a farmer.” In the Garden of Eden, Adam tended God’s garden … after the fall, Adam had to grow his own.
NOW – Paul addresses this issue of the lazy Christians who had quit their jobs.
3:6 – Paul is giving them a “command” … “in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ”. He’s giving them Divine instructions about what to do about these lazy Christians.
“withdraw yourselves” – i.e., don’t join forces with them … stay away from them …
Paul had to give the same instructions to the Romans - Romans 16:17 – “Now I urge you, brethren, keep your eye on those who cause dissensions and hindrances contrary to the teaching which you learned, and turn away from them.”
Since they were DELIBERATELY disobedient to Paul (after 2 clear warnings), Paul warns the other Christians to disassociate with them … or they might be influenced by them.
“tradition” – Paul explains the “tradition” he had left with them …
3:7-9 – Paul worked as a tentmaker while he was with them … and he worked HARD … not only at his job, but also in the ministry. He didn’t have to do this. At some places, he lived off the gifts & offerings of the people … at other places, he was bi-vocational.
Paul didn’t want to be a BURDEN to them … UNLIKE those who had quit working, and were sponging off the other Christians. He gave them a good “example” … established a “tradition”.
3:10 – EXPLAIN THIS VERSE IN LIGHT OF THE DISABLED, ELDERLY, UNEMPLOYED … AND THE LAZY.
“would”, “will” – This verse refers to those who CAN work … but “will” not work.
DO YOU KNOW SOME PEOPLE LIKE THIS? Sometimes people come to the church wanting money … and when offered some odd jobs around the church, they “will” not work. They make their living sponging off the good hearts of those who “will” to work.
There were several WORK ETHICS in Thessalonica. The JEWS believed in hard work … but they believed that SPIRITUAL work was superior to PHYSICAL work. The GREEKS didn’t like to work … they felt it demeaning, and left most of the work to their slaves & servants. To the Greeks, work was beneath them.
HOW DO YOU VIEW WORK? HOW DOES GOD VIEW WORK? Col. 3:23 – “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;”
3:11 – “busybodies” – Although they wouldn’t WORK … they were still BUSY! They had lots of time on their hands, and they filled it by meddling in other people’s lives. This was causing a problem in the church … criticizing, complaining, gossiping.
1 Tim. 5:13 – “And at the same time they also learn to be idle, as they go around from house to house; and not merely idle, but also gossips and busybodies, talking about things not proper to mention.”
You can understand WHY they may have quit working. Would you buy a new car, if you thought you were going to get into a wreck the next day? They thought Jesus was coming SOON … so … why keep on working? BUT … when their savings ran out … they were left stranded … and had too much time on their hands.
Paul has some advice for these lazy Christians – 3:12
“Mind your own business and get to work!” - Ephes. 4:28 – “Let him who steals steal no longer; but rather let him labor, performing with his own hands what is good, in order that he may have something to share with him who has need.”
Paul has some advice for the other Christians – 3:13
Paul tells the WORKING Christians to do the right thing even if others don’t … don’t get discouraged … hang in there!
When I was in Bible College, we had some students (even married students) who were supported by Mommy & Daddy … they didn’t have to work. I had 2 children & worked 3 jobs & went to school full-time. It wasn’t easy to not feel bad toward those who had it so easy. They had so much time to study … but didn’t! Many wasted their time being idle.
Regardless of what others may be doing … YOU … do the right thing.
3:14 – These lazy Christians were rebellious … deliberately disobeying Paul’s instructions from the Lord.
NOW … Paul has some INSTRUCTIONS for them:
1.- “note that person” – keep your eye on them …
2.- “do not keep company with them” - note who they are, so you can avoid them. “Never get into an argument with a fool … those observing may not be able to tell which is which.” Don’t get mixed up with them … they are nothing but trouble. Establish some BOUNDARIES … don’t endorse their lifestyle. If they get hungry enough, they might go back to work.
3.- Shame them into obedience – “that he may be ashamed”. When they see that you’re not going to go along with their lifestyle, it might make them take a hard look at themselves … and be ashamed of themselves … their conscience might bother them.
WHY IS IT HARDER TO FEEL SHAME TODAY THAN IT WAS 50 YEARS AGO?
4.- Don’t treat them as your enemies – 3:15
They are still your brothers & sisters in Christ … part of the family of God. We ALL sin … but some just SIN DIFFERENTLY than we do! We CAN’T EXCUSE their behavior … but we aren’t to support them either. TOUGH LOVE!
The GOAL … is RESTORATION … NOT EXCOMMUNICATION.
We are to “admonish” them … “warn” them of the destructive consequences of their behavior, their rebelliousness, their disobedience.
Galatians 6:1 – “Brethren, even if a man is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, lest you too be tempted.”
3:16 – They were causing STRIFE in the church … and Paul sends them to the One who can give them “peace”.
Jesus said - John 14:27 - "Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives, do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, nor let it be afraid.”
3:17-18 – The Thessalonians had received a forged letter that stated it was from Paul … which had contradicted some of Paul’s earlier teachings. Paul wanted them to know that this was really his letter, so he personally signed it … and gave them his traditional ending … 3:18
CONCLUSION: We ALL have a lazy streak in us … SPIRITUALLY speaking … DON’T WE? We might be BUSY … but BUSYNESS doesn’t always mean that we are doing what God wants us to do.
Jesus has a plan for each of our lives … until He comes. WHEN He comes, let’s be BUSY doing His will.
STAND - PRAY
OUTLINE FOR DISTRIBUTION:
“A Word For The Lazy”
2 Thessalonians 3:6-18
INTRODUCTION: Paul addresses SPIRITUAL laziness.
- They were waiting for the Lord’s return – 1 Thess. 1:10
- Paul had warned them – 1 Thess. 4:11, 2 Thess. 3:11
WHEN DID MAN FIRST BEGIN TO WORK? Genesis 2:15, 3:17-19
3:6 – “withdraw yourselves” – stay away from them … they were deliberately disobedient to Paul’s instructions – Romans 16:17
3:7-9 – Paul’s “tradition” was a hard work ethic … an “example”.
3:10 – WHAT ABOUT THE DISABLED, ELDERLY, UNEMPLOYED?
HOW DO YOU VIEW WORK? HOW DOES GOD VIEW WORK?
- Colossians 3:23
3:11 – “busybodies” – they didn’t work, but were still busy – 1 Timothy 5:13
- They thought Jesus was returning SOON.
3:12 – Paul’s advice to these lazy Christians - Ephesians 4:28
3:13 – Paul’s advice to the working Christians … do the right thing.
3:14 – Paul’s instructions for the working Christians:
1.- “note that person” … keep your eye on them.
2.- “do not keep company with them” – avoid them … establish boundaries … don’t endorse their lifestyle.
3.- Shame them into obedience – they need to take a hard look at themselves … their conscience might bother them.
WHY IS IT HARDER TO FEEL SHAME TODAY THAN IT WAS 50 YEARS AGO?
4.- Don’t treat them as your enemy – 3:15
- We all sin DIFFERENTLY … we can’t excuse their behavior, but we aren’t to support them either … TOUGH LOVE!
- The GOAL is restoration … not ex-communication – Galatians 6:1
3:16 – Jesus can give them PEACE in the midst of strife – John 14:27
3:17-18 – Paul is careful to let them know that this wasn’t another forged letter.
CONCLUSION: Be BUSY … but be BUSY doing the will of Jesus when He comes.
PRISCILLA BAPTIST CHURCH – Ray Scott, Pastor
