2 Thessalonians 3:11-13

There were people in the church in Thessalonica who thought of themselves as being so spiritual that they should spend their days waiting for the return of Jesus and not going to work. Paul couldn’t have been clearer in his response to them. They had missed the point. The fact that they didn’t work meant they had become a burden on the other believers. And, worse than that, instead of being busy workers they had become busy bodies. They spent their time interfering in other people’s lives and causing grief. As CH Spurgeon, the Victorian preacher, said: “Some temptations come to the industrious, but all temptations attack the idle.”

Paul responded to these lazy people by pointing to his own example. He worked hard day and night in order not to be a burden to others. He was convinced that everyone should work hard, and never grow tired of doing good.

The problem that Paul faced in Thessalonica isn’t one that I have ever encountered, but his teaching does help us to reflect on the wider issue of work. Work is often spoken of as if it is a great evil which needs to be avoided as much as possible. We look forward to the good times - weekends and holidays - and aim to retire as early as possible. But the Bible teaches us that God wants us to use the gifts he has given us. It is good to be busy, and use our abilities to bless other people.

1 Corinthians 15:58 takes us to the heart of Paul’s teaching about the resurrection. Having praised God for the victory he has won over sin and death, he challenges his readers to work hard for God, writing: “Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.”

Whoever we are and however old we are, God calls us to be busy workers for him, and never busy bodies.

QUESTION
What is the work that God has called you to do?

PRAYER
Loving God, thank you for the work that you have asked me to do. Help me to do it with enthusiasm and determination. Amen

Released on 25 Jun 2023