There are two dangers that we face as Christians - attacked by the enemy we become paralyzed - or not motivated to keep going we become lethargic.
Paul finishes up his second letter to the Thessalonians by giving them some warnings about the present. He’s spent most of the letter warning about the future - the lawlessness that will usher in the Anti-Christ. But seeds of that evil were present in their midst as they are in ours.
The two warnings involve the reality of struggle against the enemy as you live your Christian life - and the struggle against the tendency towards lethargy.
1 Finally, brothers, pray for us that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honored, just as it was with you. 2 And pray that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men, for not everyone has faith. 3 But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen and protect you from the evil one. 4 We have confidence in the Lord that you are doing and will continue to do the things we command. 5 May the Lord direct your hearts into God’s love and Christ’s perseverance.
Verse 1: This should be a constant prayer of all of us - even though we know that the enemy will do everything in his power to slow the spread and dishonor the gospel. Paul was having that very struggle in Corinth, as he wrote this letter.
Verse 2: Because of this he asks them to pray for deliverance - these people had heard the gospel but had not honored it with faith. There is some particularly dangerous about someone who has considered and yet rejected Jesus Christ. It’s as if something snaps and the enemy gets a hand hold that lets them say and do things they wouldn’t otherwise.
Verse 3: The good news is that despite the faithlessness of men - we don’t need to let that get us down because our Lord is faithful no matter what to do two things:
Strengthen: the Greek word means to set in a particular direction. It reminds me of cement drying. Usually when you pour cement you have to wait a period of time for it to strengthen - but if you add calcium it acts as a catalyst to dry it in just a few hours - so Jesus is like our catalyst - we point the direction of our lives towards faith in Him and He gives us strength to set that direction so that it is unchangeable.
Protect: The Greek word is "to watch." Sometimes when we suffer from attacks of the enemy he makes us feel isolated and alone - and perhaps a little resentful of the Lord for letting us get in the situation in the first place. God doesn’t promise to keep us from trouble - but to watch over us in trouble.
Jesus said: John 16:33 "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."
Verses 4 - 5: Paul is glad at the thought that the important things he has shared with them have been received and they will continue to operate that way - what way is that? Love and perseverance. They are the two hallmarks of a maturing Christian. Love in that we live in a selfless manner where the needs of others take precedence over our own needs. And perseverance in that no matter what the enemy or the world throw at us they don’t throw us off from staying steadfast with the Lord.
I think also we can take heart in that God’s love is also ours to draw from and Jesus’ perseverance when we feel like we can’t go on any more.
So now Paul, given that backdrop, is going to lower the boom on behavior that is not going to help them grow - a small group of them who decided that freedom in Christ must mean freedom from doing anything.
6 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. 7 For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example. We were not idle when we were with you, 8 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. 9 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. 10 For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: "If a man will not work, he shall not eat."
Verse 6: Paul is not telling them to "excommunicate" them - and he’ll tell them exactly how to approach them in verse 14 - but here he is laying the groundwork - "we’re your example of how to acquaint yourselves as Christians."
Verses 7 - 8: Paul patterned his life after the Lord - he was not a loafer but worked hard - why? So that he wouldn’t be a burden on anyone. This way no one could argue that Paul was just after their money - and their focus could be on the teaching and growing rather than on having to help the preacher.
Verse 9: He didn’t have to do this. In both 1st Corinthians and 1st Timothy Paul makes it clear that those who preach the gospel can be supported materially by that work. For him, though, it was more important to set an example than assert his rights. "If a man WILL not work" - it isn’t saying that if someone is unable to work or find a job - but its an attitude of the heart that Paul is concerned about.
The reason becomes clear next:
11 We hear that some among you are idle. They are not busy; they are busybodies. 12 Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the bread they eat. 13 And as for you, brothers, never tire of doing what is right.
Verses 11 - 13: "idle" means "to walk lazily".
The phrase "not busy but busybodies" is a play on words. It means "to work" and "to work around." They were working the people instead of working to support themselves. Why?
In 1st Thessalonians 4 Paul warned the church not to be lazy - it was an outgrowth of their belief that Jesus could come back any day. So instead of occupying the time they decided to just loaf around and wait - or perhaps they felt that things like "working" were beneath them - they wanted to spend their time doing more "spiritual" things.
Not content with that - they may have wanted to justify their behavior by trying to convince others that they were "less than" believers if they didn’t follow their lazy ways.
Now - there is a balance here. We don’t want to get so caught up in our everyday lives that we forget that the Lord even exists - but to just "check out" of society is not going to help you or anyone else.
The problem comes in as Paul suggests in verse 13 - once you decide to just sit around and wait - or meditate until Jesus’ return - the focus becomes all on you - and you lose focus on others.
We are to be busy - busy providing for ourselves, not forcing others to provide for us - and busy giving out to others - our time, our efforts, our finances, and our love.
Paul’s got some pretty strong words for those that don’t heed this warning.
14 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. 15 Yet do not regard him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother.
So - don’t condone the behavior, but don’t shun the person either. Just don’t hang out with them - let them feel the subtle pressure. It’s called taking responsibility and living with the consequences of your actions.
16 Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you.
17 I, Paul, write this greeting in my own hand, which is the distinguishing mark in all my letters. This is how I write.
18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all
Tradition tell us that Paul had an eyesight problem - so he dictated his letters to Tertius, his secretary. But to authenticate the letter he would sign it with his own name. He mentions this in 1st Corinthians, Galatians, Colossians, and Philemon.
Conclusions
1. Live victoriously (Chapter 1)
2 Thessalonians 1:6-7 God is just: He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you 7 and give relief to you who are troubled,
You will have trouble and trial - but God wins and you do too! Not only that but He provides the comfort to get through anything. But you might not see that ultimate victory right away.
2. Live expectantly
2 Thessalonians 1:7 This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels
So we look forward to His return - and we know that whether we die now (sleep) or are alive (Raptured) when he comes back, we’ll be with Him in victory.
So Paul gives us some things to watch out for - signs of the end, and ways to understand it - the removal of the "one who restrains," and the coming of the lawless one (the Anti-Christ).
3. Live responsibly
Though the ultimate battle is won and our victory and place in eternity sure - vegging out is not an option. There are still plenty of skirmishes to be fought, people to be rescued from darkness and changes to take place in your own life.
So how do you fight paralysis and lethargy? You fight paralysis by ignoring the enemy and his plots. Yes, ignore him - and resist the temptation to panic. You fight lethargy by realizing that God really is up to something and He wants to do it through you - now!
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