2 Thessalonians 3: 6-12

^“Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from any brother who is walking in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us. ⁷ For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we were not idle when we were with you, ⁸ nor did we eat anyone’s bread without paying for it, but with toil and labor we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you. ⁹ It was not because we do not have that right, but to give you in ourselves an example to imitate. ¹⁰ For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat. ¹¹ For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies. ¹² Now such persons we command and encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living.”

Many years ago, to what seems like a distant memory to an old man like me, my children were just babes; or at least, that’s how I like to think of them. There were actually in elementary school in a neighborhood on the outskirts of Memphis, Tennessee. Oh, how I love my children! I love to spend as much time and be active with them as possible. There was a recreational park not too far from where we lived. It was spacious and rustic; It was safe, clean, and very family-oriented having picnic tables galore! There was a lake with a running track around it, and plenty of wooded areas with walking trails. The park was adorned with the expanse of God’s amazing and beautiful creation. But the best feature my children and I loved, was the blackberry bushes that were speckled throughout the landscape. On our outings, my children and I would scout for the blackberries so we can remember exactly where they were when the season for berry-picking was just right. But we had to be quick! We had to get them before the birds! So, on our special day when the berries were ripe and ready for harvest, we got up early and hit the trails. I needed to take them when it was not too hot. When we arrived at the park, my children, Craig and Erin, were excited and popped the luscious berries into their mouths. What a treat! As we were there, picking berries can be laborious, especially for young, primary-age school children. I used this precious father-children time as a moment to teach them about work ethics and the Word of God. I would tell them what the Apostle Paul said to the Thessalonian church in 2 Thessalonians 3:10, “If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat.” I would laugh and so would they. But when they got tired and we had a great haul of berries, we called it, “quits!” Climbing back into our truck, we go back home to wash and prepare our berries for the main event: “blackberry cobbler-time!”

These precious memories of mine are forever engraved in my head. Thank you, God! I am using this story as my introduction and transition into today’s passage in 2 Thessalonians 3:6-12. In this passage, we will look at the context, correction, modeling, or demonstration of correct behavior, and the application we can make for our lives.

The context of this passage in 2 Thessalonians, is the same as for when Paul wrote his first letter to the Thessalonian church. Paul wrote to correct the church in practical matters as he cleared up misunderstandings about the imminent return of the Lord. The church was correct to believe that Jesus Christ would soon return to gather His saints, both living and dead, but their error was taking the teaching to the extreme. The people thought the return of Christ would happen so immediately within the next few days, weeks, or months. Therefore, they wanted to be ready, as commanded by the Lord Jesus Christ in his teaching in Matthew 24-25, called the Olivet Discourse. This sounds good and orthodox on first inspection, but there was a problem. With their misunderstanding, they quit working so they can sit, be together, and be ready for when Jesus appears. Since they were not working, they did not have food, and that was the problem.

Therefore, the Apostle had to correct them. These misguided people became a burden to others: those in and out of the church. In 1 Thessalonians 4:10-12, which says, “But we urge you, brothers, to do this more and more, ¹¹ and to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you, ¹² so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one.” The correction had nothing to the doctrinal teaching. Paul corrected them so they would work with their hands and not be a burden to anyone in 1 Thessalonians 4. And then again in today’s passage in 2 Thessalonians 3:10-12, Paul repeats the admonishment further, hoping the Thessalonians would heed his teaching this time. Paul said in this passage, “For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat. ¹¹ For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies. ¹² Now such persons we command and encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living.”

It was right for Paul to rebuke them by giving them correct instructions. Additionally, Paul in both letters demonstrated and told them how he and the missionary team demonstrated correct behavior. They were not idle, They were not a burden to the church. They worked and labored for their own expenses and support. They lacked nothing. In 1 Thessalonians 2:9-10, it says, “For you remember, brothers, our labor and toil: we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God. 10 You are witnesses, and God also, how holy and righteous and blameless was our conduct toward you believers.” Paul almost repeated his same words in 2 Thessalonians 4:7-8, “For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us because we were not idle when we were with you, ⁸ nor did we eat anyone’s bread without paying for it, but with toil and labor we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you.” If the Word of God says it, we must believe. Here in the two letters to the Thessalonian church, Paul says it twice, “do not be idle, work with your hands, and do not be a burden to anyone.”

In the application of this teaching, we also must never be a burden to others, emotionally or financially. God wants to be our strength and support. Jesus Christ tells us He is our Friend and we are to cast all our burdens upon Him because He cares for us. Therefore, come to Jesus and not be a burden to others. However, there is balance in Scripture that we need to heed, by the gracious hand of the Holy Spirit who gives wisdom in abundance, to anyone who asks. In Galatians 6, Paul tells the church in Galatia, they need to bear each other’s burdens that are too heavy for one person to carry; and, on the other hand, every person must be responsible and carry the load that they can carry and that the Lord has placed upon them. The Scripture in Galatians 6:2-5 says, “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. ³ For if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. 4 But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. 5 For each will have to bear his own load.” What should we do? Be not a burden and do cast our cares upon the Lord in prayer. God does answer prayers through other people. Accept help when we are not able to carry our burden. Sometimes with our heavy burden, we need emotional support and prayer. Sometimes we need financial assistance and we may be too proud to ask or to help find a way to provide. Additionally, we also must be responsible and carry our own load. This also means that we are to be responsible for others when they need assistance. The Lord always instructed the Israelites to be kind to the aliens and foreigners who sojourn in their land, because they also were strangers and aliens in a far and distant land. We need to remember this instruction from the Lord. We also were enslaved to sin; therefore, we must do what we can to advance the gospel of Jesus Christ and help others!

<>< <>< Prayer ><> ><>

O Lord my God, I pray that you open my heart to the truth of Scripture. Help me to never be a burden to others, but live holy, righteous, and Godly before a perverse nation and people. May I demonstrate my kindness to others. May I demonstrate how others are to live, like the Apostle Paul did. May I correct, love, and help others when their burden is too heavy to bear. Lord Jesus, be my strength and my help in times of need. In Jesus’ Name, I pray, amen!

Christian Hymn: Let Others See Jesus in You by B. B. McKinney in 1924: