“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 3:11-12 ESV).
Paul warned the believers at Thessalonica about those who “walked in idleness.” He warned that instead of being busy at work, they had become busybodies. Paul’s warning has been restated in the cliche’, “idle hands are the devil’s playthings.” For idleness of the hands often leads to busyness of the mouth. This is why Paul commanded that “If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat” (10).
The Bible has a high view of work. It has a high view of service. Not in earning salvation, which is the work of Christ alone. But in doing the work to which God has called each of us. As Paul wrote to the Ephesians, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them” (Eph. 2:10).
One of the marks of a gospel movement in a formerly unreached locale is that new believers stop drinking, carousing, and being idle, and go to work, supporting their families and community. This has the effect of cultural lift on an entire city. Christ followers are workers. They are givers, not takers. As followers of Christ, they live to serve, not to be served.
PRAYER: Dear Father, strengthen our hands to be busy working for You. Help us to work quietly, not gossiping and judging others, but to do good works as You have ordained. And when we are tired, teach us to rest in You. For You are our strength and our Sabbath rest. In Jesus’ name, amen.