Sunday School Lesson 13- 2 Thess. 3:10-18 - IMPORTANT WORK
INTRODUCTION: Last week, in 2 Thess. 3:1-9, we heard Paul teach on two topics: (1) The vital importance of prayer in everything we do in the church. We must avoid the human tendency to focus all our energies on methods, programs, and human effort rather than seeking divine enablement in prayer. Related to that, Paul told us that in whatever we're doing in the church, we must always place our confidence in God rather than self, so that we will allow God's Spirit to direct our efforts and sustain us in everything we do. (2) That able-bodied church members who refuse to work and seek support from the church are actually rebels, who are, in effect, rebelling against the good order and work in the church. Paul tells us that we should disassociate ourselves from such people as an incentive to encourage them to find a job and support themselves. Finally, in an excellent model of teaching by example, Paul's personal work ethic challenged us (if we can afford it) to pay our own way in various church activities and ministries instead of seeking reimbursement or giving the bill to the church. This week, we conclude our quarter in 2 Thess. 3:10-18, where we'll hear Paul continue to address the problem of the Thesslonians who refused to work, then concludes with a blessing.
Read 2 Thess. 3:10-12 - IF ANYONE IS NOT WILLING TO WORK
10 For even when we were with you, we used to give you this order: if anyone is not willing to work, then he is not to eat, either. 11 For we hear that some among you are leading an undisciplined life, doing no work at all, but acting like busybodies. 12 Now we command and exhort such persons in the Lord Jesus Christ to work peacefully and eat their own bread.
v. 10a: "For even when we were with you, we used to give you this order:" - This was evidently a verbal command Paul issued before he was forced to leave. In his first letter, he instructed them to "attend to your own business and work with your hands" (1 Thess. 4:11, in other words, get a job performing manual labor if you have to), but now the situation called for more strident measures.
v. 10b: " if anyone is not willing to work, then he is not to eat, either" - While a church certainly ought to make provision for people who, through no fault of their own, are unable to work, it should likewise impose strong incentives that encourage able-bodied people to work for a living. An interesting historical parallel occurred at the Jamestown, Virginia settlement in 1609 when, during the first winter, the colonists were facing potential starvation. One of their many problems were the English "gentlemen" in their group who considered themselves to be above performing menial labor like planting, cultivating, and harvesting crops. John Smith, the leader of the colony, imposed this very rule: "He that will not work shall not eat" (sick or disabled people were excepted).
v. 11a: "For we hear that some among you are leading an undisciplined life" - The word Paul uses here for "undisciplined" (Gk. ataktós) is the same term he used last week to describe an insubordinate and rebellious soldier-a court marshal offense, often punishable by death. And the refusal to work was grossly unfair to other church members who would be required to take-on the extra burden of supporting another person besides themselves. And remember this was A.D. 62-63: no food stamps, no welfare programs, no government hand-outs, no charitable relief organizations.
v. 11b: "doing no work at all, but acting like busybodies" - Another side of the problem was the turmoil the non-workers were generating within the church. Paul describes them as "busybodies" (Gk. periergázomai), literally picturing a meddler who goes around sticking his nose into places it doesn't belong and disrupting the work of others. This brings to mind the saying of Prov. 16:27: "Idle hands are the devil's workshop; idle lips are his mouthpiece."
12a: "Now we command and exhort such persons in the Lord Jesus Christ" - Paul uses two strong words addressed to the non-workers: The verb "command" (Gk. paraggelló) expresses the authority of a military order issued by the headquarters (i.e., "in the Lord Jesus Christ") and "exhort" (Gk. parakaleó, lit. coming along-side) indicates than Paul is making a personal one-on-one request to the individual to whom it applies.
v. 12b: "to work peacefully and eat their own bread" - This is the goal-that they completely repent of their sinful ways so that they: (1) work, (2) stop being busybodies, and (3) eat the food earned from their own labor.
Read 2 Thess. 3:13-15 - DO NOT GROW WEARY OF DOING GOOD
13 But as for you, brothers and sisters, do not grow weary of doing good. 14 If anyone does not obey our instruction in this letter, take special note of that person so as not to associate with him, so that he will be put to shame. 15 And yet do not regard that person as an enemy, but admonish that one as a brother or sister.
v. 13: "But as for you, brothers and sisters, do not grow weary of doing good" - Have you ever helped people who seemed to take you for granted or didn't thank you for it? In Thessalonica, the non-working busybodies had probably caused many of the more prosperous members to lose their enthusiasm for helping people in need. Here, Paul calls them to continue being charitable to those who are truly deserving and in dire need of help (e.g., ill, widows, orphans, etc.). At the same time, as people who give, we need to be discerning and careful. A good example of one of the things we've done at MHBC is providing financial assistance to youth in the church whose parents can't afford to send them to summer church camps.
v. 14: "If anyone does not obey our instruction in this letter, take special note of that person so as not to associate with him, so that he will be put to shame" - In this verse, Paul is telling them how to apply church discipline to members, which is always an unpleasant task. If a person refuses to obey a direct order issued under Paul's apostolic authority, the other members of the church are told to (1) "take special note" of him or her, which means they are to be singled-out personally and classified as offenders; and (2) "not...associate" with them, which implies avoiding any form of contact or conversation with. They are to be ignored, and as far as everybody else is concerned, they've become invisible. Paul's disciplinary tactic here is social isolation and his purpose and objective is not punitive, but redemptive: he hopes that the non-working busybodies will be shamed into repenting of their irresponsible ways and find gainful employment to support themselves. In the context of the modern church, this type of official action would be taken by the appointed leaders in the church, in our case the pastors and the deacons, subject to approval by two-thirds of the church membership (MHBC Const./Bylaws, Section 5).
v. 15: "And yet do not regard that person as an enemy, but admonish that one as a brother or sister" - Even though the disciplinary measures are necessary and proper, the offending member isn't to be regarded as an "enemy" or being permanently expelled from the church. Admonishing with love is Paul's model for church discipline: the believer always has the opportunity for restoration both to the Lord and to fellowship with his or her Christian brothers and sisters.
Read 2 Thess. 3:16-18 - WITH MY OWN HAND
16 Now may the Lord of peace Himself continually grant you peace in every circumstance. The Lord be with you all! 17 I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand, and this is a distinguishing mark in every letter; this is the way I write. 18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.
v. 16: "Now may the Lord of peace Himself continually grant you peace in every circumstance. The Lord be with you all!" - This is Paul's salutation in the form of a benediction (or blessing). It tells these Thessalonian that Jesus, "the Lord of peace Himself," has reconciled them to God and is at peace with them. Because Jesus has granted them this "peace in every circumstance," it should quiet their concerns over the end-times and help them endure future persecution. Over the ages, Bible scholars have referred to this verse as a "peaceful close to a stormy Epistle." When Paul says, "every circumstance," it serves to remind us today that as believers in Jesus Christ, we are not dependent on anything in this world for our "peace." The world can't give it or take it away from us. This peace doesn't mean a complete absence of problems or trials in our lives, but is the inner tranquility that we derive from a deep and abiding relationship with God-we are eternally secure no matter what happens around us.
v. 17: "I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand, and this is a distinguishing mark in every letter; this is the way I write" - This is an interesting sidelight. Writing letters or manuscripts in Paul's time was a laborious process in which the writing was done on papyrus sheets using reed-type pens dipped in ink pots. Although Paul was exceptionally literate in both Greek and Hebrew, he typically dictated his letters to co-workers (e.g., Timothy) or perhaps even professional scribes hired for that purpose. However, in order to authenticate his authorship, Paul always wrote the benediction or closing-"in my own hand"-at the end of his letters and signed it with his distinguishing mark.
v. 18: "The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all" - Although this closing was typical for Paul, it was by no means perfunctory. It was his heart-felt desire that the grace of Jesus Christ would be with every Thessalonian believer, including those who needed to be disciplined.
APPLICATION-God's Work Ethic
1. Work is a God-given responsibility. Refusing to work to support yourself and/or your family when you are able to work is a serious sin. Elsewhere, Paul wrote: "But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever" (1 Tim. 5:8).
2. Churches are not responsible for supporting able-bodied members who refuse to work. With all of the government relief programs available today, this isn't the life or death issue it created in times past. Even so, such people could become the "busybodies" described in today's lesson.
3. Churches should discipline rebellious members who refuse to respond to correction. It could be the issue described above or other forms of sinful of behavior causing unwarranted discord in the church. We have specific provisions in our Constitution and Bylaws for dealing with such problems.
4. We should not allow ourselves to be discouraged from helping people who don't appreciate it. This pertains mainly to people outside the church who are in need material or financial assistance. Christians are obligated to do "good works" out of agapē love without expecting anything in return. This is one of the characteristics that distinguish us from the rest of the world.
