THE BIBLE HAS SOMETHING TO SAY ABOUT WORK. THOUGH THIS WOULD NOW APPLY TO ALL CHRISTIANS WHO ARE ABLE TO WORK, IT IS ESPECIALLY TRUE FOR MEN. UNLESS YOU ARE MARRIED AND HAVE SOME TEMPORARY AGREEMENT, THESE SCRIPTURES SHOULD GUIDE YOUR LIFE IN WORK. I AM PROVIDING YOU WITH TWELVE TRUTHS OR PRINCIPLES THAT SHOULD HELP YOU LIVE YOUR LIFE IN A WAY THAT FOLLOWS CHRIST, GLORIFIES GOD, AND RESULTS IN BLESSING.
- WORK IS NOT A CURSE, IT IS A GOOD GIFT: Genesis 2:15 ESV The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it.
SIN DOES NOT ENTER THE WORLD UNTIL CHAPTER THREE. THAT TELLS US WORK IS NOT A CONSEQUENCE OF SIN. IT IS PART OF GOD’S GOOD DESIGN. GENESIS ONE ACTUALLY REFERS TO THE WORK MAN IS ASSIGNED AS A BLESSING. THEY ARE TO “BE FRUITFUL AND MULTIPLY AND FILL THE FACE OF THE EARTH.” THEY ARE GIVEN THE THINGS OF THE EARTH TO CARE FOR AND TAKE CARE. THEY ARE BLESSED AND FED BY THE THINGS THEY CARE FOR.
AFTER SIN, GENESIS 3 SAYS THE MAN HAS A CONSEQUENCE FOR SIN. BECAUSE MAN SINNED AND SIN HAS NOW ENTERED THE WORLD, THE EARTH IS CURSED AND DOES NOT GIVE US WHAT WE NEED OR WANT EASILY. WE HAVE TO WORK HARD TO PROVIDE FOR OUR NEEDS AND THIS PROVISION COMES BY “THE SWEAT OF YOUR BROW”. YOU WILL LITERALLY HAVE TO WORK SO HARD YOU SWEAT AT TIMES.
BUT THAT DOESN’T MAKE WORK BAD OR A CURSE. IT JUST MAKES IT HARDER THAN IT ORIGINALLY WAS.
EVEN JESUS CAME AND WORKED HARD. HE IS OUR MODEL, SO WE SHOULD ALSO WORK HARD.
2. THERE IS BLESSING IN WORKING: Proverbs 16:3 ESV Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.
NOW, AT THIS POINT YOU KNOW WORK IS GOOD. IT IS NOT PUNISHMENT. AND YOU KIND OF UNDERSTAND IT IS A GIFT AND SOURCE OF BLESSING. BUT THINK ABOUT THE VERSE ABOVE. WE HAVE DESIRES AND PLANS. BUT WITHOUT WORK, WE WILL NOT EXPERIENCE THOSE BLESSINGS. SIMPLY BELIEVING GOD HAS A PLAN OR DESIRE FOR YOUR LIFE AND WANTS TO BLESS YOU ISN’T THE WAY GOD BRINGS THAT BLESSING INTO YOUR LIFE. INSTEAD, GOD HAS DESIGNED IT ALL TO WORK TO BRING ABOUT THIS DESIRE OR BLESSING BY GOING THROUGH THE PROCESS OF PLANNING AND WORKING TO ACCOMPLISH THAT PLAN.
THAT DOESN’T MEAN IT WILL JUST COME WITHOUT HARDSHIP, STRUGGLE, SETBACKS, OR SWEAT. IT USUALLY INCLUDES ALL OF THOSE. BUT IT IS STILL GOD’S GOOD PLAN AND WAY TO BLESS YOU.
3. WORKING IS THE WAY GOD BRINGS BLESSINGS TO US, BUT NOT WORKING IS THE WAY THAT LEADS TO TROUBLE, HARDSHIP, AND A DESTROYED LIFE: Proverbs 13:4 ESV The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied.
WE CAN KNOW WORK IS NOT A PUNISHMENT. WE CAN KNOW GOD WANTS TO BLESS US THROUGH GOOD WORK. WE CAN UNDERSTAND IT WILL REQUIRE US TO DO THE WORK TO RECEIVE THE GIFT GOD HAS FOR US. BUT GOD HAS ALSO GIVEN US ANOTHER GREAT TOOL TO MOTIVATE OUR WORK. HE HAS REVEALED THE TRUTH ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE DON’T WORK.
JUST BECAUSE YOU AREN’T WORKING DOESN’T MEAN YOU DON’T HAVE DESIRES OR DREAMS OR WANTS. YOU DO! BUT IF YOU AREN’T GOING OUT TO WORK TO OBTAIN THEM, THEN YOU “CRAVE AND GET NOTHING.” AND THAT IS GOOD. IT IS GOD’S WAY. OUR SOCIETY HAS CREATED A “FALSE GOOD” THAT SAYS ALL HOMELESS PEOPLE AND ALL HUNGRY PEOPLE OR ANYONE WHO HAS A WANT FOR ANYTHING DESERVES TO BE GIVEN THOSE THINGS. THEY NEVER ADD TO IT “IF THEY ARE WORKING OR TRULY WILLING TO WORK THESE NORMAL NECESSITIES SHOULD BE OBTAINABLE.” OF COURSE, THAT MEANS THEY WOULD HAVE TO MANAGE THEIR MONEY WELL, TOO. YOU CAN’T SPEND YOUR MONEY ON PLEASURES OR MORE EXPENSIVE ITEMS AND STILL OBTAIN THE BASIC THINGS YOU WANT IN ALL CASES. WE SHOULD WORK TO MAKE SURE A MAN WHO WORKS FULL-TIME CAN OBTAIN BASIC FOOD AND CLOTHING. WE SHOULD HOPE THERE WOULD BE A WAY TO AFFORD A MODEST HOME, TOO, ESPECIALLY IF THEY HAVE A FAMILY. BUT THAT ALL DEPENDS ON IF THE MAN WILL WORK AND NOT MISUSE THE MONEY AND RESOURCES IT SUPPLIES.
4. THE WAY WE WORK MATTERS TO GOD: Colossians 3:23 ESV Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.
UNFORTUNATELY, A LOT OF PEOPLE SOMEHOW COME TO BELIEVE WE CAN JUST HAVE A JOB AND COLLECT A CHECK AND COAST ON BY. WE DON’T HAVE TO SWEAT AND TOIL OR WORK HARD. BUT THAT IS A LIE FROM SATAN AND A WAY HE PLANS ON HARMING PEOPLE. WE WERE MADE TO WORK WITH GOD, FOR GOD, TO THE GLORY OF GOD, AND FOR THE GOOD OF ALL THAT GOD HAS CREATED. WHEN WE WORK, IN WHATEVER WE PUT OUR HANDS TO DO, THE QUALITY AND CARE OF THAT WORK MATTERS TO GOD. HE SEES ALL WE DO AND WANTS US TO WORK HEARTILY BECAUSE WE ARE WORKING FOR JESUS, NOT JUST OUR BOSSES. THAT MEANS (AS EPHESIANS 6 STATES) THAT EVEN HORRIBLE BOSSES (LITERALLY SLAVE MASTERS) GET THE SAME QUALITY OF WORK FROM US AS GOOD AND GODLY PEOPLE WHO HIRE AND PAY US WELL.
5. THE WAY WE OBTAIN PROVISION FOR OUR NEEDS MATTERS TO GOD: Ephesians 4:28 ESV Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need.
SOME PEOPLE JUSTIFY SIN, SELLING DRUGS OR STEALING OR FRAUD (WHATEVER SINFUL THING), BY STATING THEY ARE JUST DOING WHAT THEY HAVE TO DO TO STAY ALIVE. THERE IS A GROWING SATANIC LIE AT WORK IN OUR COUNTRY THAT IS CREATING ANOTHER NEW “FALSE GOOD” THAT IS CORRUPTING OUR NEIGHBORS AND NEIGHBORHOODS AND BRINGING DEATH AND DESTRUCTION INTO THE WORLD. WE SEE JUDGES AND POLITICIANS, ACTIVISTS AND ACTORS ALL SAYING IT IS OK TO STEAL OR SET UP A TENT IN SOMEONE’S YARD, OR TO LOOR AND RIOT AND DO ALL KINDS OF EVIL BECAUSE THEY DON’T HAVE WHAT THEY NEED.
THAT IS NOT FROM GOD, BUT FROM SATAN.
THE WORD IN EPHESIANS 4:28 TELLS US TWO THINGS: FIRST, YOU SHOULDN’T OBTAIN YOUR WANTS AND NEEDS BY WAY OF SIN. INSTEAD, YOU NEED TO WORK TO PROVIDE NOT ONLY FOR YOURSELF, BUT FOR OTHERS YOU WILL BE ABLE TO SHARE WITH ALSO. SECOND, IF YOU HAVE EXTRA AND SEE SOMEONE SINNING TO GET WHAT THEY WANT, YOU SHOULD CALL THEM OUT OF SIN AND GIVE THEM SOME WAY TO GET WHAT YOU ARE ABLE TO SHARE BY WAY OF DOING SOME WORK FOR YOU (HONEST WORK BY HIS/HER OWN HAND). A PERSON WHO SINS TO GET THEIR NEEDS AND WANTS CAN’T JUST STOP SINNING TO GET THEIR NEEDS AND WANTS AND CONTINUE TO LIVE SELFISHLY. THEY ARE CALLED TO DO HONEST WORK THAT RESULTS IN OVERFLOWING ON OTHERS WHO ARE DOING AS THEY ONCE DID. IF WE ARE IN CHRIST, WE NO LONGER LIVE FOR OURSELVES.
SOME WILL BE ABLE TO DO MORE AND OTHERS LESS, BUT WE SHOULD ALL BE ABLE TO DO SOMETHING.
6. THE WAY WE DO ALL OUR WORK MATTERS TO GOD, NOT JUST THE WORK WE DO FOR MONEY (INCLUDING VOLUNTEERING, TAKING CARE OF OUR HOMES AND RESOURCES, AND HOW WE DO OUR HOUSEWORK AND CHORES AND SCHOOL WORK, EVEN OUR BIBLE STUDY AND HOBBIES): Ecclesiastes 9:10 ESV Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might, for there is no work or thought or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol, to which you are going.
WE ARE CALLED TO CARE ABOUT HOW WE DO OUR WORK, BUT NOT JUST WORK FOR MONEY OR TO MEET OUR NEEDS. WE AREN’T JUST CALLED TO DO THE JOB WE DO EACH WEEK, PHYSICAL LABOR, DILIGENTLY. WE ARE CALLED TO DO EVERYTHING WE DO DILIGENTLY. ALL WORK IS NOW HARD. THAT INCLUDES HOW YOU THINK AND GROW IN WISDOM AND MENTAL MATTERS AS WELL AS THINGS THAT ARE PHYSICAL BY NATURE. EVEN OUR RELATIONSHIPS SHOULD BE WORKED ON DILIGENTLY. “WHATEVER” YOU DO, DO IT WITH “ALL YOUR MIGHT.” BY THE TIME YOU DIE, YOU SHOULD BE SPENT UP WITH NO GAS LEFT IN THE TANK. THIS ISN’T A CALL TO WORK YOURSELF TO DEATH. INSTEAD, IT IS A CALL TO WORK HARD AT ALL YOU CHOOSE TO DO. WE SHOULD WORK HARD AT RESTING, ALSO, AND NOT LET GREED CORRUPT US TO PURSUE EVERYTHING THE WORLD HAS TO OFFER. WE DON’T HAVE TO CHOOSE TO PUT OUR HANDS TO DO EVERYTHING WE MIGHT BE TEMPTED TO PUT OUR HANDS TO DO.
7. WHAT WE DO WITH THE MONEY WE MAKE (OR PLAN TO MAKE) MATTERS TO GOD, TOO: 1 Timothy 5:8 ESV But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
AS MENTIONED EARLIER, WE AREN’T SUPPOSED TO LIVE A SELFISH, SELF-CENTERED LIFE FOCUSED SOLELY ON OUR OWN NEEDS. GOD HAS GIVEN US RELATIONSHIPS, INCLUDING A FAMILY, TO BE A PART OF AND TO CONTRIBUTE TOWARD AS HIS IMAGEBEARERS. WE CAN EVEN GO OUT AND MAKE OUR OWN FAMILIES BY COMMITTING TO A SPOUSE, OVERFLOWING IN LOVE RESULTING IN CHILDREN, AND THEN POSSIBLY ENJOY THE GIFT OF GRANDCHILDREN AND IN SOME CASES GREAT GRANDCHILDREN. THAT WAS THE BLESSING PROMISED BY GOD IN GENESIS 1 AND IT IS STILL AVAILABLE.
BUT HOW YOU CHOOSE TO WORK OR NOT WORK WILL TELL IF YOU BECOME MORE OF A BLESSING OR CURSE TO THAT FAMILY. AND ANYONE WHO DOES NOT SEEK TO BE A BLESSING TO THEIR FAMILY BY WORKING HARD AT ALL THEY DO AND PROVIDING FOR THEIR FAMILY IS NOT SOMEONE WHO IS IMAGING GOD. THEY ARE IMAGING GODLESSNESS. THEIR FAMILY WILL FEEL THE IMPACT OF LIVING IN A WORLD WITHOUT THE PRESENCE OF GOD, NOT COMPLETELY, BUT IN AS MUCH AS GOD HAS DESIGNED THE WORLD TO REFLECT WHAT LIFE WITH HIM IS SUPPOSED TO BE LIKE WHEN HIS IMAGEBEARERS LIVE AND ACT LIKE HIM TOWARD OTHERS.
IF YOU SAY YOU ARE IN CHRIST, BUT YOU LIVE ONLY CARING ABOUT YOURSELF, YOU CAN’T HONESTLY CLAIM TO BE IN CHRIST. TO BE IN CHRIST IS ANOTHER WAY OF SAYING YOU BELIEVE WHAT JESUS SAID ABOUT HIMSELF, INCLUDING THAT HE IS LORD AND WILL BLESS THOSE WHO FOLLOW HIM AND DO AS HE LEADS THEM TO DO. IF YOU CLAIM JESUS IS YOUR MASTER, OR LORD, AND THAT YOU FOLLOW HIM (IDENTIFYING AS A CHRISTIAN OR DISCIPLE OF CHRIST), THEN YOU SHOULD CARE FOR THOSE GOD HAS GIVEN YOU THE WAY JESUS DID. IF YOU DON’T, EVERYONE AROUND YOU WHO KNOWS JESUS AND WHAT HE WAS LIKE AND WHAT HE TAUGHT WILL BE AWARE THAT YOU ARE LYING. YOU AREN’T FOLLOWING CHRIST, YOU ARE FOLLOWING SATAN.
8. GOD WANTS US TO BE DEPENDENT ON HIM ALONE AND NOT TO LIVE OFF OF OTHERS: 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 ESV And to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you, so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one.
THOUGH NOT ALL WILL TAKE THIS TO HEART, IT IS GOD’S GOOD DESIGN THAT WE SHOULD GROW UP AND WORK TO TAKE CARE OF OURSELVES. WE SHOULDN’T LIVE IN A WAY WE ALWAYS NEED SOMEONE ELSE TO TAKE CARE OF OUR BASIC NEEDS. THAT IS NOT GOD’S WAY. WE ARE TO BE DEPENDENT ON HIS PROVISION. HE PROVIDES BY US WORKING HARD. HE IS ABLE TO PROVIDE ENOUGH THAT WE CAN TAKE CARE OF OURSELVES AND SOMEONE ELSE. HE IS EVEN ABLE TO PROVIDE FOR US, OUR SPOUSE AND KIDS, AND EXTENDED FAMILY. SCRIPTURE ALSO SAYS WE ARE CALLED TO PROVIDE FOR OUR TEACHERS AND THOSE IN OUR CHURCHES WHO HAVE NEED. IT GOES EVEN FURTHER TO SAY WE SHOULD CARE FOR THOSE THAT ARE LOST BY PROVIDING FOR MISSIONARIES AND THE COSTS THEY INCUR ON MISSION. WE ARE TO WORK DILIGENTLY TO GROW IN OUR ABILITY TO HELP AND PROVIDE. AND THAT ALL STARTS BY A COMMITMENT TO PROVIDE FOR OURSELVES RATHER THAN TO STAY DEPENDENT ON SOMEONE ELSE.
THIS INCLUDES STAYING DEPENDENT ON THE GOVERNMENT IN OUR COUNTRY. THAT IS ANOTHER SATANIC “FALSE GOOD” AT WORK IN THE U.S. THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT TEACH WE SHOULD PROVIDE FOOD, CLOTHING, HOUSING, CELL PHONES, EVEN PAY FOR PEOPLE NOT WORKING WHO ARE ABLE AND IT IS SET UP TO CRIPPLE ANYONE WILLING TO DEPEND ON THE GOVERNMENT RATHER THAN BEING WILLING TO WORK HARD TO GET IN A PLACE THEY BECOME THE TYPE OF WORKER GOD WANTS THEM TO BE—A GENEROUS, WISE, AND FAITHFUL STEWARD (HOUSEHOLD MANAGER) WHO IS GIVEN A GROWING PLACE OF RESPONSIBILITY IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD AND THE WORLD. FAMILIES ARE BEING DAMAGED FOR GENERATIONS BY THIS SATANIC LIE. ITS POWER LIES IN LAZINESS. IT IS EASIER TO GET MORE FROM THE GOVERNMENT WITH LITTLE TO NO WORK (SIMPLY FILLING OUT PAPERWORK AND GOING TO AN OFFICE) THAN IT IS TO GO OUT AND MAKE ENOUGH TO GET THE SAME THINGS WITH THE STRESS AND SWEAT WORK DEMANDS. BUT IT IS GOD’S WAY TO GO OUT AND WORK HARD AND SWEAT AND TOIL TO OBTAIN WHAT WE NEED. IT’S WORTH THE HARD WORK TO STAY FREE FROM BEING SLAVES TO THE GOVERNMENT SYSTEM AND THE POWER AND GOOD THEY ARE STEALING FROM ALL WHO BECOME THEIR SLAVES BY WAY OF BEING CRIPPLED BY THEIR SATANIC POLICIES AND PROVISION.
9. GOD DEMANDS WE REALLY GO OUT AND WORK; SAYING WE WANT TO WORK, BUT NOT ACTUALLY WORKING IS NOT SATISFACTORY AND WILL RESULT IN DESERVED SUFFERING: Proverbs 14:23 ESV In all toil there is profit, but mere talk tends only to poverty.
I OFTEN HEAR PEOPLE SPEAK ABOUT HOW THEY ARE LOOKING FOR A JOB. FOR SOME, THAT MAY BE TRUE. IT CAN BE HARD TO FIND EMPLOYMENT. BUT FOR MANY, IT IS AN EXCUSE. THERE IS A BIG DIFFERENCE IN “I CAN’T FIND ANY WORK. NO ONE WILL HIRE ME” AND “I WANT A CERTAIN KIND OF JOB, OR LEVEL OF PAY, OR BENEFITS, OR WHATEVER AND I HAVEN’T FOUND THAT.” IF YOU HAVE RESPONSIBILITIES AND NEEDS, YOU NEED TO TAKE (ALMOST) ANY WORK YOU CAN TAKE TO PROVIDE FOR THOSE IF YOU HAVEN’T BEEN DILIGENT TO STORE UP SAVINGS TO LIVE OFF OF AND TAKE CARE OF YOUR NEEDS AND RESPONSIBILITIES DURING A TIME WITHOUT WORK. THAT DOESN’T MEAN YOU HAVE TO CHOOSE THE WORST OPTION AVAILABLE, BUT IF THERE IS ONLY ONE OPTION (AND IT ISN’T SIN) AND YOU ARE ABLE TO DO IT, THEN YOU SHOULD WORK RATHER THAN DEPEND ON SOMEONE ELSE TO TAKE CARE OF YOU. THERE ARE EXCEPTIONS, INCLUDING IF SOMEONE IS WILLING TO HELP YOU FOR A SHORT SEASON. BUT IT SHOULDN’T BE LONG-TERM OR A WAY OF LIFE. IT SHOULD HUMBLE YOU. YOU SHOULD DESIRE TO BE THE PERSON GOD HAS MADE YOU. AND YOU SHOULD PAY BACK WHATEVER YOU BORROW IF YOU ARE ABLE AND THAT IS EXPECTED.
ALSO, CHRISTIANS SHOULDN’T FEEL GUILT OR RESPONSIBILITY TO PROVIDE FOR PEOPLE WHO ONLY TALK ABOUT WORK, BUT NEVER GO AND DO IT. WE NEED TO BE WISE. THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO REALLY NEED HELP AND CANNOT WORK OR PROVIDE FOR THEMSELVES. THEN THERE ARE THOSE WHO CAN. WE NEED TO KNOW THE DIFFERENCE. WE AREN’T LOVING SOMEONE WHO CAN AND SHOULD WORK BY “HELPING” THEM WHEN THEY WON’T WORK. WE AREN’T LOVING THEM BY GIVING TO THEM WHEN THEY CONTINUE TO TALK ABOUT WHAT THEY WOULD DO WHILE NEGLECTING WHAT THEY CAN DO AND SHOULD DO. THEY NEED A REBUKE, NOT A FREE RIDE, ESPECIALLY IF THEY ARE A MEMBER OF YOUR CHURCH.
10. IF ANYONE (WHO IS ABLE) IS UNWILLING TO WORK, IT IS GOD’S WAY TO LET HUNGER WORK IN THEM TO MOTIVATE THEM TO WORK AS THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN WORKING: 2 Thessalonians 3:10-12 ESV 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.
AS NOTED IN THE PREVIOUS PRINCIPLE, AS A CHURCH THOSE WHO DO NOT WORK NEED TO BE CALLED TO GET BUSY DOING SOME KIND OF WORK. IN OUR COUNTRY ALMOST EVERYONE CAN DO SOMETHING TO MAKE MONEY. YOU CAN HAVE MENTAL DISABILITIES AND WORK. YOU CAN HAVE PHYSICAL DISABILITIES AND WORK. THE PROBLEM ISN’T OFTEN IN FINDING A JOB YOU CAN DO, BUT IN BEING WILLING TO WORK. WE DON’T ALLOW THAT IN THE CULTURE OF THE CHURCH. WE ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO DO WORK AND NOT BE IDLE. IDLENESS (INCLUDING USING A TON OF TIME IN LEISURE) RESULTS IN DESTRUCTION AND DEATH. IT RESULTS IN DIVISION. THIS IS BECAUSE IDLENESS LEADS TO SIN. GOD DESIGNED YOU TO BE BUSY WORKING IN SOME WAY. IF YOU AREN’T, YOU ARE LIVING OUTSIDE OF HIS GOOD DESIGN. IF YOU AREN’T LIVING IN HIS DESIGN, YOU AREN’T REFLECTING GOD. INSTEAD, YOU ARE REFLECTING SATAN AND GODLESSNESS. THE FRUIT ALWAYS TURNS OUT TO BE CORRUPTED. PUSH YOUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS TO BE AT WORK AND TO COMMIT TO NOT BEING IDLE.
11. HOW SERIOUS IS IT THAT A BROTHER WILL NOT WORK? IT IS SO SERIOUS WE ARE CALLED TO KICK THAT PERSON OUT OF THE CHURCH UNTIL THEY REPENT AND TURN AWAY FROM LIVING THAT WAY: 2 THESSALONIANS 3:1-16 SAYS,
3 Finally, brothers,[a] pray for us, that the word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honored,[b] as happened among you, 2 and that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men. For not all have faith. 3 But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one.[c] 4 And we have confidence in the Lord about you, that you are doing and will do the things that we command. 5 May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ.
Warning Against Idleness
6 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.[d]
13 As for you, brothers, do not grow weary in doing good. 14 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.15 Do not regard him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother.
THIS TEXT TEACHES US THAT AN UNWILLINGNESS TO WORK DEMANDS THE CHURCH STAND IN UNITY AGAINST THE PERSON BY EXCOMMUNICATING THEM FROM THE CHURCH BODY. THEY ARE NOT LIVING FOLLOWING CHRIST. THEY AREN’T COMMITTED TO HIM. IT SHOWS IN HOW THEY REFUSE TO BE COMMITTED TO HIS BODY AND MISSION. IF THEY AREN’T FOLLOWING CHRIST AND REFUSE TO REPENT, THEN THEY NEED TO BE IDENTIFIED AS THE UNBELIEVER THEY ARE. THE PROOF IS IN THE FRUIT. NOW, YOU NEED TO TEACH THEM THE THINGS I AM SHARING WITH YOU IN THIS LIST OF PRINCIPLES AND TRUTHS.
SOME WILL BE CONFRONTED WITH THE TRUTH AND THE HOLY SPIRIT WILL WORK TO CONVICT THEM AND CALL THEM TO ACT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE WORD. THEY WILL CONFESS THEIR SIN AND TURN AWAY FROM LIVING IN IT. INSTEAD, THEY WILL COMMIT THEMSELVES TO WORK AND WORK DILIGENTLY. THEY WILL COMMIT THEMSELVES TO WORK TOWARD BECOMING ABLE TO TAKE CARE OF THEMSELVES AND OTHERS. THEY WILL COMMIT TO CARING ABOUT OTHERS. THEN THEY WILL GO OUT AND DO IT. THEY AREN’T WORRIED ABOUT THE CONSEQUENCES AS MUCH AS THEY ARE SADDENED BY WHAT THEY HAVE DONE AGAINST THE NAME OF CHRIST AND THE GLORY OF GOD. THEY CARE ABOUT HIM AND IT IS EVIDENT THEY DO NOT WISH TO GRIEVE HIM OR HIS HOLY SPIRIT. THEY DON’T WANT TO HURT THE BODY OF CHRIST AND GRIEVE CHRIST AS A RESULT. THEY UNDERSTAND JESUS DIED TO SET THEM FREE FROM THE SLAVERY THEY HAVE COME TO SEE THEY HAVE BEEN LIVING IN AND THEY REFUSE TO SETTLE FOR LESS THAN WHAT HIS BLOOD PURCHASED. THIS ONE DOESN’T NEED TO BE EXCOMMUNICATED. THEY NEED TO BE ENCOURAGED AND HELPED.
THEN THERE ARE OTHERS. THOSE THAT REFUSE TO AGREE WITH THE WORD AND POSSIBLY EVEN BECOME ANGERED BY IT NEED TO BE CONFRONTED AND BROUGHT BEFORE THE CHURCH. THE CHURCH SHOULD BE UNITED IN A TIME LIKE THIS TO LOOK CLOSELY AT THE MEMBER AND THEIR ACTIONS AND ADDRESS ANY CORRUPTION THAT IS REMAINING IN THEM. SIN IS SHAMEFUL. IF THE PERSON ISN’T ASHAMED OF THEIR SIN, THEY MUST BE REMOVED AND GIVEN OVER TO SATAN FOR THE DESTRUCTION OF THE FLESH IN ORDER THAT THEIR SOULD MAY BE SAVED IN THE END. THEY NEED TO BE GIVEN BACK TO THE WORLD AND REMOVED FROM THE ASSEMBLY (WORSHIP SERVICES) AND CHURCH LIFE TOGETHER. THEY WANT THE WORLD, SO YOU SHOULD LET THEM HAVE IT. THEY WILL HOPEFULLY FIND OUT BEFORE ITS TOO LATE THAT SATAN AND THOSE IN THE WORLD DON’T REALLY LOVE THEM. THEY ARE USING THEM AT BEST THE WAY THAT PERSON HAS BEEN SELFISHLY USING EVERYONE AND EVERYTHING ELSE FOR THEMSELVES.
12. IN CLOSING, REMEMBER THAT WHAT YOU CHOOSE TO BECOME WILL IMPACT THE WAY YOU LIVE, INCLUDING WHAT YOU ARE ABLE TO DO AND FORCED TO DO: Proverbs 12:24 ESV The hand of the diligent will rule, while the slothful will be put to forced labor.
AS YOU PROCESS ALL OF THIS I WANT TO LEAVE YOU WITH ONE GENERAL PRINCIPLE, ONE BIBLICAL TRUTH, YOU NEED TO HAVE BEFORE YOU. IT IS ALMOST ALWAYS TRUE THAT THOSE WHO CHOOSE TO WORK HARD AND CAREFULLY WILL RISE IN RESPONSIBILITY AND OPTIONS OF WORK AND PAY AND INCENTIVES. IT IS ALSO TRUE THAT THOSE WHO REFUSE TO DO SO WILL FALL FURTHER INTO A PLACE WHERE THEIR OPTIONS WILL DECREASE IN ALL OF THOSE SAME WAYS.
WHAT OPTIONS OPEN UP TO YOU ARE IN YOUR HANDS.
YOU MUST CHOOSE TODAY WHO YOU WILL BECOME. THAT REALLY BOILS DOWN TO WHO YOU TRUST AND COMMIT TO FOLLOW. THERE WILL BE SEASONS YOU SUFFER AND DON’T EXPERIENCE THE BLESSINGS SCRIPTURE PROMISES SIMPLY BECAUSE OUR WORLD IS BROKEN AND CORRUPTED BY SIN. IT IS ALSO TRUE THAT GOD HAS A WAY OF DOING MIRACULOUS REVERSALS THAT OVERTHROW THE POWER OF SIN THAT BRINGS UNDESERVED HARM AND NEGATIVE EXPERIENCES ON US DESPITE OUR BEING FAITHFUL. THESE CONSEQUENCES ARE NOT JUST TIED TO US, BUT MANY TIMES ALL WHO LIVE AROUND US. WE ARE PART OF THINGS BIGGER THAN US. THAT’S WHY WE BELIEVE AND PREACH THE GOSPEL. THAT’S WHY WE HOPE IN THE NEXT LIFE MORE THAN THIS ONE AND STORE UP OUR TREASURES IN HEAVEN RATHER THAN ON EARTH.
MY HOPE IS YOU WILL COMMIT TO BE ALL IN WITH JESUS CHRIST AND FOLLOW GOD RATHER THAN LIVE FOR YOURSELF IN A WAY THAT GOES OFF OF ANY OTHER VOICE THAT CALLS YOU TO FOLLOW IT, WHETHER IT CALLS YOU TO DOUBT GOD OR STAY IN IGNORANCE. I WANT YOU TO HAVE ALL THE BLESSING GOD HAS FOR YOU.
IN CHRIST,
MIKE