Busy, or Busybody
II Thessalonians 3
SCRIPTURE READING: II Thessalonians 3:6-13
INTRODUCTION:
This is the last sermon in a series from the book of II Thessalonians. It’s a short series because it’s a short book: just 3 chapters. II Thessalonians is the second letter to the Church in Thessalonica. Today, this city is called Thessaloniki. It is about the size of San Antonio --- with a million inhabitants --- and it’s considered the most important city of Greece. When Paul wrote this letter, Thessalonica was a prominent Port City, located at the intersection of 2 major Roman Roads. Trade and traffic from all over the world came through Thessalonica --- which made it an important center for the spread of Christianity. BiblePlaces.com
The problem was that the Church in Thessalonica was listening to false teachers. Paul knew it was essential that they “get it right” because their influence would be spread all over the world. He wrote the letter we call I Thessalonians to address some false teachings, but just a few weeks later he heard that new confusion had arisen. Paul sent off a second letter to address these problems.
Some of the Thessalonian Christians were so sure the Lord was going to return any minute, that they had quit their day-jobs. They were sitting around on hill-tops, looking up to the sky and singing “cum ba yah.” That’s why chapter 3 of II Thessalonians deals with the importance of WORK.
Now this topic was no more popular in that day than it is now. In fact, for a lot of people AVOIDING work is the only work they want to do. I saw a comic strip where 2 men were passing by a store with a sign in the window that read: NO HELP WANTED.
One of the men turned to the other and said, "You should apply--you’d be great at that!"
I heard about a Union Meeting where the Union Representative was explaining the new Work Contract.
He said, "I have great news, Comrades. Management has agreed to lighten our work schedule!”
The crowd shouted, "Hooray!"
"And we will have a 150% pay rise."
"Hooray!"
"We will finish work at 4 PM, not 5 PM."
And again the crowd yelled, "Hooray!”
"We will start work at 10 AM, not 9 AM."
"Hooray!"
"From now on, we will work only on Wednesdays."
There was dead silence --- then a voice from the back asked…
"EVERY Wednesday?" SOURCE: http://www.cybersalt.org
According to one poll, only 43 percent of American office workers are satisfied with their jobs. In Japan, the figure dips to 17 percent. In the first century, Christians had even less reason to be enthusiastic about their work. Most worked in menial jobs. Many were slaves. That’s why Paul starts out by showing them the WORTH of WORK.
1. Working is Worthy
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. II Thessalonians 3:7-8
Paul and the others who traveled with him had a perfect right to expect the church to support them. Instead, they earned their living in a Trade. Along with preaching, they also worked with their hands --- making tents. They did this so they would not be a burden to anyone.
In the First Century, most Jewish Rabbi’s--- who studied the Word of God as their first job--- also learned a Trade. It was a common teaching among the Jews that any kind of work has merit in and of itself.
On the other hand, most Greeks thought work was demeaning --- hard work was something only slaves should have to do. In fact, the famous Greek writer, Homer, said the gods hated humans so much that they invented work as a punishment. Many of the Thessalonian Christians were Greeks. It is possible some of them brought their Greek view of work into their Christian life.
Some Christians today have the same kind of attitude. They think work is a punishment God gave to Adam and Eve after the Fall. It is true that God said work would be harder after the Fall, but He gave Adam the task of taking care of the garden BEFORE Adam ate the forbidden fruit. The Bible makes it clear that work is a blessing and a worthy pursuit.
Martin Luther understood this when he wrote, "The maid who sweeps her kitchen is doing the will of God just as much as the monk who prays -- not because she may sing a Christian hymn as she sweeps but because God loves clean floors.
“The Christian shoemaker does his Christian duty --- not by putting little crosses on the shoes --- but by making good shoes. God is interested in good craftsmanship." Our Daily Bread, September 5, 1994.
2. Working is a Witness
In II Thessalonians 3, verse 9, Paul explained WHY he worked at making tents instead of taking payment for preaching. 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. II Thessalonians 3:9
The way Paul saw it, working for his living increased His credibility with his Congregation. No one could accuse Him of just being out for their money.
Have any of you Guys had your wife ask you to take her to see the latest movie version of Pride and Prejudice? If so, my advice is, go ahead and get it over with. It’s really not that bad, although I did keep wishing for some ACTION. I kept waiting for a carriage race or an explosion or something!
Anyway, the reason I’m bringing it up is that one of the characters is a Clergyman named Mr. Collins. Now, the Reverend Collins had a “Patroness” --- Lady Catherine Debourgh. It was obvious that --- since Lady Catherine paid for his house and his entire living --- he was a “bought man” so to speak. Part of the humor was how he was always flattering and trying to ingratiate himself with Lady Catherine Debourgh.
That’s the reason Paul refused to take pay for his preaching. He didn’t want anyone to think he had ulterior motives for Preaching the Gospel.
His WORK of making tents was part of his WITNESS.
3. Not Working is Wicked
• Busy or Burdon
In the 1st letter to the Thessalonians, Paul had clearly told them what to do --- in plain English (well, in plain Greek…) Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you.” I Thessalonians 4:11
The Christians who were NOT working were more than lazy. They were disobedient. They were rebelling against the clear commands of God.
In II Thessalonians 3:10 Paul reminded them of a slogan he taught them during his first visit. In case they had trouble remembering, he told them, For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: "If a man will not work, he shall not eat."
I’ve noticed something about that verse. People who have jobs like to quote it ---and people who don’t have jobs don’t like to hear it. Evidently some of the folks in Thessalonica had decided that if someone was willing to hand it out, they were willing to take it.
Their attitude was kind of like the father of Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady. He said “The undeserving poor are just as needy as the deserving poor.”
Of course, there is a big difference between those who CANNOT work because of circumstances like illness, injury, disability, or age --- and those who AREN’T INCLINED to work because of disposition. It’s one thing when someone has a genuine need. It’s quite another when someone thinks the world owes them a living. We saw the truth of this illustrated right after Hurricane Katrina. The whole nation reached out to help people in a time of desperate need. At the same time, a few people used that disaster as an opportunity for fraud and theft.
Paul taught that idle Believers are a BURDEN on the working Believers. Therefore --- as unloving as some might think it is --- Paul told working Christians to keep away from every brother who is idle and does not live according to the teaching you received from us. II Thessalonians 3:6
And what did Paul tell lazy Christians to do? It was simple: “get a job.”
In verses 11 & 12, he wrote, 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. II Thessalonians 3:11-12
The word for command is the world a General would use when giving orders to his troupes. The Commander-in-Chief of the Armies of Heaven is ordering us to settle down and earn our living.
• Busy or Busybody
• Why? Because if we aren’t BUSY, we become BUSYBODIES. It’s no coincidence that the worst gossips in any Church are also those who aren’t doing much productive work in the Church.
• If we don’t find meaning in our own work, we start messing in other people’s business. We criticize; we grumble; we try to take control.
• If our hands aren’t busy with work, we start pointing fingers; we accuse; we whine; we complain.
• If we’re not workers, we’re shirkers. Shirkers are chronically unhappy, and they make everyone around them unhappy, too.
On the other hand, Christians who are busy working are the most satisfied people in the world. If we are busy building others up, we won’t have the time or interest in tearing others down
CONCLUSION:
In verse 13, Paul says, And as for you, brothers, never tire of doing what is right. II Thessalonians 3:13
In other words, don’t get discouraged when you see other Christians who are not doing their share of the work. Our job is to keep on Working while we are Waiting for the return of the Lord.
The story is told that St. Francis of Assisi was hoeing in his garden when someone asked, “If you knew Jesus was coming back this very hour, what would you be doing?”
He said, “I’d keep hoeing.”
That’s the kind of attitude the Apostle Paul taught in all his letters to the Churches. Look at these instructions from Colossians 3:23-24. Let’s read these verses together:
Whatever your task, work heartily, as serving the Lord and not men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward; you are serving the Lord Christ.
Next time you go to work, or school, or start cleaning your house or mowing your yard… remember that --- no matter what TASK you are doing --- in all your WORK --- you are serving the Lord Christ
