Video to come.
Morning Message Text: 2Thessalonians 3: 6-13
Warning Against Idleness
6 In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command you, brothers and sisters, to keep away from every believer who is idle and disruptive 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 offer ourselves as a model for you to imitate.
10 For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: “The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat.”
11 We hear that some among you are idle and disruptive. 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 food they eat.
13 And as for you, brothers and sisters, never tire of doing what is good.
Morning Message:
As I began to prepare this week, I was pulled towards my daily devotional reading on Monday. I want to share it with you because I believe that it gives context to today’s message. Its title is this question, “Can Only Christians Love Others?” In 1 John 4:7, the apostle John, who is known as the apostle of love, makes a shocking statement. Only the followers of Jesus, among all the people on earth, can truly love another person. He said that we should love one another, for this comes from God to those who are born again and have a relationship with him. Other people can experience and convey affection and compassion and attraction and physical intimacy. There can be non-Christian philanthropy and altruism, which is unselfish concern for the welfare of others. But the selfless agape love that characterizes God Himself can only be experienced and conveyed by those who know him. If God abides in us, His love is being perfected in us (1 John 4: 12).
As we begin to unpack today’s scripture we need to look back one verse. Verse 5 says, “May the Lord direct your hearts into God’s love and Christ’s perseverance”. Paul asked the Lord to direct the hearts of his readers into God’s love and Christ’s perseverance. To direct means to remove the obstacles that stand in the way, in this case, any barriers to spiritual growth. What Paul is praying for is for God to activate in these believers, the kind of love that only a follower of Jesus has access to. Loving someone, even another believer, is easy when everything is going well, when we are here worshiping together, when we are celebrating together and praising God. Even when we are grieving together, but are we capable of loving our brothers and sisters for the purpose of restoration?
Listen carefully to what verse 6 says. “In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command you, brothers and sisters, to keep away from every believer who is idle and disruptive and does not live according to the teaching you received from us.” Verse 11 sheds a little more light on the problem. “We hear that some among you are idle and disruptive. They are not busy; they are busybodies.” Now Christian doctrine in general does not elevate separation above unity, which makes particular instructions like these difficult. But the point of this passage is that we should separate ourselves as a church body from those whose ongoing and willful disobedience shows that they are intent on causing division within the fellowship of believers. The phrase keep away pictures gathering together one’s robe and walking away, not in a spirit of superiority, but in refusal to condone wrong deeds. The purpose of disassociating with idle and disruptive believers is to create a distance that will encourage repentance and restoration. This is also love, tough love, that is willing to risk everything, even relationships in order to restore a fellow Christian.
The problem that Paul is addressing in that some members of the church in Thessalonica so misunderstood the teaching of the rapture that they stopped working and waited idly for Christ to return. I don’t believe that is why members of the church today choose to be idle. Is there anyone here today that when you leave here you will go home, sit in your favorite chair and just wait for Jesus to come? No, the reason that most would give if they were being perfectly honest is: We worship our free time, our relaxation, our comfort. Those things have become more important to us than serving our Savior and our brothers and sisters in Christ.
Some among the Thessalonians refused to work and simply relied on the handouts of wealthy patrons within the church that were intended to aid poorer members. Paul says such behavior is not to be tolerated. Now I don’t see this in today’s church, but our society is full of it. Now don’t misread Paul’s words. He did not say, “Don’t support anyone who cannot work.” It is those who can, but refuse to work who believers are not to support. Those who are able to work. I appreciate Paul’s statement in verse 10, “The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat.” You might think that this sounds mean-hearted, but you would be wrong. For the purpose of restoration this is Christian love in action. Paul is not wanting anyone to suffer. He is saying do everything in your power to restore them to God’s purpose for their lives.
In practical terms, keeping away from these believers means this: Do not be influenced by troublemakers. Do not join in their pursuits or let them whisper destructive things in your ear. In the Greek, to “not associate” with someone literally means “Do not mix yourselves up with them.” If some come along who want to start trouble in the church, shut yourself off from their controversy and encourage others to do the same. And confront them— lovingly, since they are not the enemy but brothers and sisters in Christ. Urge the disruptive to get back in step with the army of believers and walk faithfully in obedience to the Word. This is the biblical way to restore fellowship.
My devotional asked this question. How are you doing with this assignment to love? The love that reflects Jesus compels us to do things for others without any expectation of something in return. It puts the needs and interests of others first. Ask God today to help you love others the way he does, and let’s show the world we are Christians by our love. Think about this for a moment. What is the most amazing way that God showed his love for us? He did everything in His power, including dying on a cross for the restoration of our souls, to restore us to a right relationship with Him. Now ask yourself, how can I love like God?
In Christ’s Love and Peace,
Pastor Bob
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