MOTIVATE

There is a routine most of us have in our household before we go to bed. It’s likely late in time and dark at night. You make the rounds through the house to clean-up any final items and close the window curtains. You make sure to turn off the lights in each room. You check the door to make sure the handle is locked, and the deadbolt is latched. And then you enter your bedroom for final tasks and to unwind before you close your eyes.

Hopefully, you wake up refreshed and energized by a good night’s sleep in the safety and comfort of your home. However, when you go downstairs to begin your morning routine, you realize that you inadvertently left the garage door open. It is unknown if any animals or intruders came in the middle of the night. You slept with a false sense of security.

This is how many of the Thessalonian believers were operating. They believed Jesus would return and rescue them from persecution and suffering, but their trials were only multiplying.

Paul wrote this letter because these believers had three problems.

1. Discouragement. Paul encourages them by affirming their growing faith, increasing love, and steadfast hope (2Thes 1:3-4).
2. Deception. Paul clarifies they had not missed Jesus’ return, and he exhorts them to stand firm in truth (2 Thes 2:15).
3. Disobedience. Paul challenges them to not be idle/disorderly, but to diligently labor until the Lord returns (2 Thes 3:11-12).

In this last chapter, we can see 3 ways Christians are to diligently labor for the Lord.

EXAMINE                        2 Thessalonians 3:1-12

¹ Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honored, 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. 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. 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.

Pray for gospel progress.

In the previous chapter/passage, Paul offers prayer for the Thessalonians 2:15-17 “Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word.” He prayed they would be comforted and established amid their trying circumstances.

In return, Paul requests prayer from the Thessalonians (cf 1Th 5:25). It is one thing to pray for another, but then to hear and know others are praying for you – that’s a humbling encouragement.

• Ex. 1 When you pay for a meal for a friend, you likely think of it as a small token expression of care. But when they repay, you are reminded that small acts of kindness are received with significant appreciation.
• Ex 2 I’ve been on mission trips to impoverished countries, and our teams knew we were going to serve underprivileged individuals. We knew we would give essential supplies to needy situations. We knew our brief time shared among them would bring only a momentary distraction and temporary relief to their ongoing circumstances. Our serving and giving seemed so small and the least we could do to offer Christian compassion. Yet – on numerous occasions – these individuals would display return generosity in offering us food, and express thoughtfulness to pray for us, our families, and our church, and promise to continue to pray for us.

So, Paul’s invitation for the Thessalonians to pray for him was a bold display of humility.[1] Here, we have a man of supernatural calling, brilliant intellect, accomplished career, extraordinary abilities, courageous faith, and he’s humbly asking for prayer. Paul wasn’t arrogantly thinking his apostleship was beyond prayers from a trivial church. He wasn’t attempting to muscle through circumstances or hush vulnerability. Instead, Paul understood the only means of progress and power for his life and ministry was the prayers of the saints. Every apostolic letter of Paul’s invites others to pray for him. And we should note the aim of Paul’s request:
^3:1 that the word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honored, as happened among you.

Paul prays for God’s word – the gospel – to speed ahead (τρέχω). The word implies swift running and moving forward with full effort and directed purpose.[2]

Remember what Paul said of the Thessalonian’s faith?

• 1Th 1:8 “the word of the Lord sounded forth from you… and your faith in God has gone forth everywhere”
• 1Th 2:13 “you accepted the word of God not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers”

So, as the Thessalonian believers honored the Lord when they heard the gospel, so Paul wanted other people and places to receive the good news.

Likewise, we should pray for gospel progress. We should pray for divine moments to share the gospel. Pray for God to send visitors to our church. Pray for open doors to share the gospel and promote Christ’s church in our neighborhoods, our workplaces, and as we go throughout our communities.

Indeed, we should pray for the struggles and sicknesses of others. We should pray for overcoming strength for challenges that ourselves or our friends are experiencing. But let us not forget to pray for God to save souls from empty lives and eternal hell. And may our prayers increase for the word to saturate our life so that when we our squeezed with the pressures of life, that biblical truth comes forth.

• Pray intentionally for gospel progress. Some helps: phone alarms; pictures on fridge/wall; jewelry (wrist/neck); partner accountability.
• Take a moment to pray for #WhosYour1.
• Annual prayerwalk local schools in September.

Often, God does not work among us and bless us because we are not praying for Him to do so. So, let’s commit to praying for God to use us.

• Jer 33:3 “Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.”
• Jn 14:13 “Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.”
• James 4:2-3 “You do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive because you ask wrongly for selfish passions.”

Pray for gospel persistence.

² and that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men. For not all have faith.

Paul recognizes that not everyone will respond to God in faith. There will be wicked/perverse/ troublesome/unreasonable (ἄτοπος; improper, out of place) and evil (πονηρός; malicious). They’re morally out of alignment and malicious individuals, who are vile in speech and violent in deeds.^[3] Paul had faced ample aggression and overwhelming oppression that he requested prayers of deliverance.

Like the early church, many Christians today face an immoral culture and ungodly governments. National leaders create laws that exempt themselves with the guise of public good. They advocate for tolerance while reforming society and suppressing differing viewpoints. While desiring equity they instigate upheaval and uprisings.

This is true personally as well. Regardless of how rational you are, how many times you attempt to persuade, there are some people that we, as Christians, will not be able to convince to change their mind, behaviors, or evil.

The disciples faced similar experiences and asked Jesus why they could not help and heal a man with a demonic spirit. Jesus said, “This kind cannot be driven out by anything by prayer and fasting.” (Mk 9:29) In other words, our prayers for deliverance are essential in the work and ministry with a sinful world.

This is why Paul’s next words are praise and proclaiming what God can do: ³ But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one. 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.

Paul’s confidence about the Thessalonians was that they would be directed by God’s love and Christ’s steadfastness. In other words, we need to daily remember our hope, our rock, our refuge, our deliverance comes from up high and not down low.

There are times when we need to stop talking to others and even ourselves, and simply preach to ourselves. When our self-talk is only focusing on concerns, challenges, and cynicism, then we need to preach about the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord. We need to remember that

• When governments are corrupt, God’s kingdom is unshaken.
• Even if humanity is unfaithful, God is steadfast.
• When friends fail, God promises never to forsake.
• When people offend or wound you, God is the one who establishes us and guards our heart.
• We pray with gospel persistence by remembering what God has done in the past and relating them to the present.
  • Me thinking God will exhaust mercy & grace.
  • My calling… me, a pastor?
  • Me wondering if God has great plans for SP

*Remember Jesus.

Prevent gospel passivity.

Three ways we diligently labor for the Lord are praying for gospel progress, praying for gospel persistence, and preventing gospel passivity.

Paul commands Christians to withdraw from people who are “walking in idleness.”

• not those who need/take a break from work or service,
• not those who are unemployed for uncontrollable reasons,
• not those who are unable to work due to physical capacity.

Paul’s word for idleness (ἀτάκτως) is more than just lazy but being undisciplined; like that of soldiers not keeping order and causing danger for the army; or absenteeism of an apprentice that work and income would be neglected.^[4]

Paul is referencing people who are unwilling to work or serve. They’re able but idle. In the case of the Thessalonians, they’re idle mainly because they think it’s unnecessary with the return of Jesus. They think work is wasting time, and instead are passively waiting for Jesus.

But their thinking is inexcusable. Here we see Paul explaining the relationship between theology and practice – doctrine and deeds. Paul says v.6 that their actions were not in accord with the example they saw in his life.
1Th 2:9; 2Th 3:7-8 “remember our labor and toil: we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God.”

1Th 5:14 “admonish the idle”

The Scriptures emphasize a significant value for work.

• God worked six days and then rested (Gen 1-2).
• God designed humanity to be productive and to work before the fall (Gen 1:28; 2:15)
• God destined His people with talents and gifts for His glory and the good of others.[5]
• Further, Paul not only set an example of work but gave a principle: ¹⁰ 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.

These persons erred not just in not working, but working at the wrong things; they were busybodies – a word meaning to meddle in other people’s business.^[6] So, instead of contributing to the health of the body, they were parasites – sucking the life out of others.

Paul teaches these are spiritually dangerous. If they are not correctable then the church is called to cut off their support – no work, no food.

A few applications

• Parents, teach your children to work with appropriate age chores. Let your children know that all types of work are valuable – some may attend college but other trade-schools.  
• Promote a culture of service by encouraging others to join you.
• Promote a culture of care for those unable to work. Some of your giving supports our benevolence fund, SPAN, and other ministry that cares of individuals.

Ultimately, passive Christianity is perilous. It’s true that you cannot earn salvation. However, if your faith leads you to sit back and wait for the return of Jesus without sharing your faith, without sacrificial giving to ministry, without serving wholeheartedly, without contributing to God’s church and the kingdom, and seeing souls saved – then your faith is out of alignment with NT tradition.

APPLY/THINK

One of my early jobs was with a printing company. I worked in this warehouse area with bindery machines for books/magazines, etc. Generally, there were lots of people doing a variety of tasks: scheduling jobs in proper order; loading paper into a machine; checking books for errors; packing books; shipping materials; etc.

It was known that whenever a supervisor was walking through the warehouse, you never wanted to be standing still. People would say, “look busy.” But eventually, even looking busy would be revealed that you were not productively busy.

My friend, there is coming a day when looking busy – even in the church – will be revealed at the return and judgment of Jesus Christ. We need to heed Paul’s words to work and witness, so that we can eat joyfully at the Lord’s table.

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[1] Cf Rom 15:30; 2 Cor 1:11; Eph 6:18-19; Php 1:19; Col 4:3; 1 Th 5:25; Phm 1:22.

[2] https://biblehub.com/greek/5143.htm

^[3] Charles A. Wanamaker, The Epistles to the Thessalonians: A Commentary on the Greek Text, New International Greek Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: W.B. Eerdmans, 1990), 275.

^[4] Charles R. Swindoll, Insights on 1 & 2 Thessalonians, vol. 10, Swindoll’s Living Insights New Testament Commentary (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., 2016), 146.

[5] See Tim Keller, Every Good Endeavor. Sebastian Traeger, The Gospel At Work. Also: Psalm 128:2; Prov 10:4; 12:11; 19:15; Jesus’ parables of farming and talents; 1 Cor 10:31; Col 3:17; instruction for benevolence toward workers 1Tim 5:10, ff; or Titus 2:7, 14; 1Pet 2:12; etc.   

^[6] Gene L. Green, The Letters to the Thessalonians, The Pillar New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI; Leicester, England: W.B. Eerdmans Pub.; Apollos, 2002), 351.