Running in Idle
Do you ever get tired of doing the right thing? Have you ever been in a situation where someone needed your help and you weren’t sure exactly what to do or even if you should do something? Have you ever been in a situation where someone was more concerned with your business than the problems that they face themselves? Today we are going to talk about idleness. Not idol, but idle, as in sitting around doing nothing. Idle as in lazy. We’re going to read 2 Thessalonians 3:6-15. This is the letter from Paul to the church in Thessalonica. If you would, follow along.
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[a] 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.
14 Take special note of anyone who does not obey our instruction in this letter. Do not associate with them, in order that they may feel ashamed. 15 Yet do not regard them as an enemy, but warn them as you would a fellow believer.
The problem talked about here in 2 Thessalonians is first brought up to the church in Thessalonica in the first letter. 1 Thessalonians 5:14 reads, “14 And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone.” The problem of idleness showed up before in Thessalonica. Now obviously, it had gotten worse…perhaps out of hand. I love how the KJV describes idleness…disorderly. It literally means lazy. You see, the problem was that people were using the second coming of Christ as an excuse to quit working and doing their fair share in expectation that Christ was coming soon. They had abandoned their way of life expecting Christ was coming to take them away. In turn, they were sponging off the church in order to live. They were taking advantage of the situation.
The problem is, when the apostles and church leaders went to Thessalonica, they accepted no charity. They worked for what they ate and used. It wasn’t that they couldn’t accept charity or gifts, it’s the fact that they were setting a good example for those whom they were teaching.
As Christians, we are called to be a good example, especially to those who are new in the faith. It is our duty to ‘show them the ropes’. The proper term for that is discipling them. When we baptize new believers, it is our duty to teach them the proper way to live the Christian life. The problem is, we lose sight of that and become lazy sometimes. Paul says here directly, “If a man will not work, he shall not eat.” In other words, earn your keep.
Sometimes in Christian circles, we are called to help others who need it. The trouble is, there are people all over who want nothing more than to receive a free ride and charity from people. Paul tells us to avoid these people. Not only is it calling us to avoid these people, but avoid that activity of lazyness, idleness, and disorder. Activities like idleness have a tendency to rub off. We are like those we surround ourselves with.
When it comes to idleness, we are like a car. When a car is sitting in the driveway at the house, running in idle, it’s functioning, running, and appears to be doing what it’s supposed to. But there’s one problem. The car isn’t going anywhere. The car is not moving. The car’s full functionality is to carry us from one point to another. If it isn’t doing that, it isn’t serving its main purpose.
When we sit at home, in church, at work, or wherever, we’re alive, functioning, running and we appear to be doing what we’re supposed to be doing. But there’s one problem. We truly aren’t going anywhere. We are not moving. Our full functionality is to get closer to Christ with every day that passes and to lead other people to Christ with us along life’s journey.
Idleness is a disease. A lot of people in our country think they are entitled to things. In all actuality, we are called to avoid these people. People who are perfectly able to work need to get up and work.
Now, keep in mind that there are people who do need our help. Sometimes circumstances come around that perhaps someone gets laid off and cannot find work. Perhaps an injury incapacitates someone to function in their life. Maybe life’s just taken a turn for the worse and they need help. What I’m trying to say is that we are supposed to help those who need help. We are called to do so by Christ.
However, there are those that attempt to take advantage of the situation. They attempt to have other people carry them through because they are just too lazy to do something about it.
In Thessalonica, there were those who needed help and received it. However, there were those who had abandoned their lives and sought the church to carry them through. This is what Paul is addressing here to this church.
The end result of this is that some people in the church in Thessalonica were tempted to join those who were being irresponsible. The helpers got tired of doing what was right and sought to join their ranks. Paul is writing them to tell them they are wrong for doing that.
It is our duty to rebuke and correct our brothers and sisters who are making these mistakes. We should never tire of doing what is right, although we do tire in doing it. It is hard, physical work doing what is right. It is mentally and emotionally draining as well.
However, if our attitude toward doing what is right changes to an attitude of, “Man I am sick and tired of doing what is right all the time only to get stomped on!” That is when we need our attitude checked. At that point, we probably need a little ‘me’ time to recenter and refocus on Christ.
Paul goes on to tell us that although we are not to associate with those who are lazy and idle, we are not to become their enemies. That is not the goal. Keep in mind that Christ told us that in all things, Love. Mark 12:30, Christ says, “30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ 31 The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ If we are to love our neighbor, making him an enemy isn’t doing that. When someone does wrong, we are to bring it to his attention. If that doesn’t work, then we bring it before the congregation. If that does not work, then we treat them as a pagan. What Paul is emphasizing here is that when we disassociate with those who are not listening to rebuke, we do not treat them as an enemy, yet as a brother, with love. Pagans we treat with love because we are trying to win them to Christ. Those who do not listen to rebuke, we do so because we want to cultivate in them the spirit of repentance.
Repentance is the key word for idleness. Whether it is us or someone we know or a stranger who is seeking out help from the church, idleness calls for repentance. The disease of idleness has claimed many along the lines of battle. As Christian soldiers, it is our duty to be sure we are being the good example and not becoming casualties of the battle.
There’s a story of a couple who had been having difficulties in their marriage. They’d separated, started seeing other people and about 6 months down the road, the family who had been trying to get them to see the light for a long time. They were helping them financially, physically and in every way possible. Finally, they got back together, had started going to church, and a year later, were baptized. Only a few short months later, tragedy struck again and they split up and separated. Asking their family for financial help, this time they turned them away telling them that instead of sponging off of other people as they had their entire lives, they need to quit being lazy. Sometimes the help we give ends up being fruitless. The best course of action is to love them and help them not be lazy or idle.
My friends, cars in idle go nowhere. People are no different. When we operate in idle, we go nowhere. It is our Christian duty to help the idle not be idle by showing them through example.
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[a] 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.
14 Take special note of anyone who does not obey our instruction in this letter. Do not associate with them, in order that they may feel ashamed. 15 Yet do not regard them as an enemy, but warn them as you would a fellow believer.
The problem talked about here in 2 Thessalonians is first brought up to the church in Thessalonica in the first letter. 1 Thessalonians 5:14 reads, “14 And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone.” The problem of idleness showed up before in Thessalonica. Now obviously, it had gotten worse…perhaps out of hand. I love how the KJV describes idleness…disorderly. It literally means lazy. You see, the problem was that people were using the second coming of Christ as an excuse to quit working and doing their fair share in expectation that Christ was coming soon. They had abandoned their way of life expecting Christ was coming to take them away. In turn, they were sponging off the church in order to live. They were taking advantage of the situation.
The problem is, when the apostles and church leaders went to Thessalonica, they accepted no charity. They worked for what they ate and used. It wasn’t that they couldn’t accept charity or gifts, it’s the fact that they were setting a good example for those whom they were teaching.
As Christians, we are called to be a good example, especially to those who are new in the faith. It is our duty to ‘show them the ropes’. The proper term for that is discipling them. When we baptize new believers, it is our duty to teach them the proper way to live the Christian life. The problem is, we lose sight of that and become lazy sometimes. Paul says here directly, “If a man will not work, he shall not eat.” In other words, earn your keep.
Sometimes in Christian circles, we are called to help others who need it. The trouble is, there are people all over who want nothing more than to receive a free ride and charity from people. Paul tells us to avoid these people. Not only is it calling us to avoid these people, but avoid that activity of lazyness, idleness, and disorder. Activities like idleness have a tendency to rub off. We are like those we surround ourselves with.
When it comes to idleness, we are like a car. When a car is sitting in the driveway at the house, running in idle, it’s functioning, running, and appears to be doing what it’s supposed to. But there’s one problem. The car isn’t going anywhere. The car is not moving. The car’s full functionality is to carry us from one point to another. If it isn’t doing that, it isn’t serving its main purpose.
When we sit at home, in church, at work, or wherever, we’re alive, functioning, running and we appear to be doing what we’re supposed to be doing. But there’s one problem. We truly aren’t going anywhere. We are not moving. Our full functionality is to get closer to Christ with every day that passes and to lead other people to Christ with us along life’s journey.
Idleness is a disease. A lot of people in our country think they are entitled to things. In all actuality, we are called to avoid these people. People who are perfectly able to work need to get up and work.
Now, keep in mind that there are people who do need our help. Sometimes circumstances come around that perhaps someone gets laid off and cannot find work. Perhaps an injury incapacitates someone to function in their life. Maybe life’s just taken a turn for the worse and they need help. What I’m trying to say is that we are supposed to help those who need help. We are called to do so by Christ.
However, there are those that attempt to take advantage of the situation. They attempt to have other people carry them through because they are just too lazy to do something about it.
In Thessalonica, there were those who needed help and received it. However, there were those who had abandoned their lives and sought the church to carry them through. This is what Paul is addressing here to this church.
The end result of this is that some people in the church in Thessalonica were tempted to join those who were being irresponsible. The helpers got tired of doing what was right and sought to join their ranks. Paul is writing them to tell them they are wrong for doing that.
It is our duty to rebuke and correct our brothers and sisters who are making these mistakes. We should never tire of doing what is right, although we do tire in doing it. It is hard, physical work doing what is right. It is mentally and emotionally draining as well.
However, if our attitude toward doing what is right changes to an attitude of, “Man I am sick and tired of doing what is right all the time only to get stomped on!” That is when we need our attitude checked. At that point, we probably need a little ‘me’ time to recenter and refocus on Christ.
Paul goes on to tell us that although we are not to associate with those who are lazy and idle, we are not to become their enemies. That is not the goal. Keep in mind that Christ told us that in all things, Love. Mark 12:30, Christ says, “30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ 31 The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ If we are to love our neighbor, making him an enemy isn’t doing that. When someone does wrong, we are to bring it to his attention. If that doesn’t work, then we bring it before the congregation. If that does not work, then we treat them as a pagan. What Paul is emphasizing here is that when we disassociate with those who are not listening to rebuke, we do not treat them as an enemy, yet as a brother, with love. Pagans we treat with love because we are trying to win them to Christ. Those who do not listen to rebuke, we do so because we want to cultivate in them the spirit of repentance.
Repentance is the key word for idleness. Whether it is us or someone we know or a stranger who is seeking out help from the church, idleness calls for repentance. The disease of idleness has claimed many along the lines of battle. As Christian soldiers, it is our duty to be sure we are being the good example and not becoming casualties of the battle.
There’s a story of a couple who had been having difficulties in their marriage. They’d separated, started seeing other people and about 6 months down the road, the family who had been trying to get them to see the light for a long time. They were helping them financially, physically and in every way possible. Finally, they got back together, had started going to church, and a year later, were baptized. Only a few short months later, tragedy struck again and they split up and separated. Asking their family for financial help, this time they turned them away telling them that instead of sponging off of other people as they had their entire lives, they need to quit being lazy. Sometimes the help we give ends up being fruitless. The best course of action is to love them and help them not be lazy or idle.
My friends, cars in idle go nowhere. People are no different. When we operate in idle, we go nowhere. It is our Christian duty to help the idle not be idle by showing them through example.
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