Confidence In Obedience
Paul concludes his second letter to the church in Thessalonica with a reminder of remain faithful.
Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honored, as happened among you, and that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men. For not all have faith. But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one. And we have confidence in the Lord about you, that you are doing and will do the things that we command. May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ.
2 Thessalonians 3:1-5
He asks the congregation to remember to pray for their evangelistic efforts elsewhere. Not only that the word of the Lord may “speed ahead and be honored”, but also that they be “delivered from wicked and evil men”. Though he is eager to see the gospel spread and those who are being saved come to repentance and live lives honoring to God, he acknowledges that “not all have faith” and therefore they will need to be protected from the wicked.
He encourages them with the fact that the Lord is faithful and will also establish them against the evil one. Those who do not have faith are in Thessalonica just as they are abroad, and therefore so are the acts of wicked men to attack the church of Christ on behalf of Satan. Yet we know that God abandons none who are his. With that confidence, he reminds them to continue to do all that they have been commanded, directed both in the love of God and the steadfastness of Christ.
Any activity undertaken for vain ambition has no eternal value regardless of how “good” it may look. When the love of God guides activities they have lasting value no matter how small. However, it’s easy to lose heart and therefore they must also be done with the steadfast commitment with which Christ marched steadily on in the face of such intense opposition that he knowingly went even to his own execution.
Idleness Is Ungodliness
The next section is not a change of subject. There are those who are not steadfast but have surrendered to sloth so severe they do not even provide for themselves!
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. For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we were not idle when we were with you, 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. It was not because we do not have that right, but to give you in ourselves an example to imitate. For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat. For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies. Now such persons we command and encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living.
2 Thessalonians 3:6-12
Many want to act as if there is a divide between “secular” labor and labor for the Kingdom, one which may be bridged occasionally by teaching and instruction others in the workplace. Instead, Paul here commands that those not engaged in the day to day activities from which God provides many of our basic physical needs are to be removed from fellowship!
There’s a spiritual element to all aspects of life and one who is unwilling to roll up his sleeves and be about the work that is needed is in real spiritual danger. The job of the church is to command and encourage those who are idle to work quietly and earn their own living. The Christian traditions which the apostles passed on to early church is one of steadfastness in labor, both in matters of study and teaching and in matters which provide for our own household and others.
Though those who serve as shepherds of flocks should be provided of by those under their care, while in Thessalonica they toiled to provided out of their own work instead. This was to be a lesson to the church in remaining active.
Warn as a Brother
As for you, brothers, do not grow weary in doing good. If anyone does not obey what we say in this letter, take note of that person, and have nothing to do with him, that he may be ashamed. Do not regard him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother.
2 Thessalonians 3:13-15
The excommunication in view here is not a separation of bitter enemies but a sort of temporary separation as a time to work things out. The goal is for it to serve as a warning for the one in the wrong and protection for the flock, both as a lesson to a weaker brother than idleness is not acceptable and to prevent the care of the flock from enabling slothful behavior.
And now I hope this can serve as a warning to those in the church who have created a separation between the “worldly” works of daily life and what are considered “godly” works. Similar to the distinction between general and special revelation, there is a labor that is common and can be performed by even those who are unbelievers. Yet that labor still points back to God, and is itself a work prepared for believers to do well.
Whether it’s the production of food and shelter, the enforcement of good laws, care for those who are sick or disabled, or any other labor which must be done. Christians are called to engage in these things in the love of God and with the steadfastness of Christ. Not all believe. The wicked will assail the church. Yet we should not see these as excuses to be idle but further motivation to all good works!
As Solomon recorded for us in Ecclesiastes, there are ways in which these labors “under the sun” can be vain. However, there is also a way in which the fear of God sanctifies the work which God has given us to enjoy. Our call as believers is not simply to avoid sin but to honor God in all that our hands find to do.
