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Upside Down Living (2 Thessalonians 3:13-18)

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MOTIVATE

Parents have some lines on repeat

  • Because I said so.
  • Close the door, we don’t live in a barn… or not paying to cool/heat the whole neighborhood.
  • You must think money grows on trees.
  • Eat your food, there’s children starving in the world.
  • Clean up your room, it looks like a tornado hit.
  • Why didn’t you call? I thought you were stuck in a ditch somewhere.
  • I brought you into this world. I can take you out.

Me: “Are you whining or working for it?”

With your co-workers or other acquaintances, you’ve probably said something like,

  • “If I told you once, I’ve told you 1,000 times, _____.”
  • “If I had a $1 for every time I’ve said _____
                              [a phrase / instructions; etc.]”

As we close out our study in 2 Thessalonians, one might see similarities between the first and second letters of Thessalonians. Additionally, you likely recognize recurring themes between this letter and Paul’s other writings. The last verses of this letter provide us repeated advice in refreshing ways for growing in our Christian faith.

EXAMINE                     2 Thessalonians 3:13-18
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. 16 Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all. 17 I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. This is the sign of genuineness in every letter of mine; it is the way I write. 18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.

*Live exhausted in the Lord not tired in the world.

The apostle Paul closes his letter to the Thessalonians with encouragement for exhaustion: 13 “do not grow weary in doing good.” The word for weary (ἐκκακέω) implies being empty of spirit; to be overwhelmed and faint of heart; literally, “out of good.”[1]

Paul knew these believers were stressed and tested with little in the tank to persevere. A good night’s sleep, or even a vacation wouldn’t help. They were deeply weary, but Paul encouraged them onward, knowing life will always have its challenges, hardships, and suffering. Further, humanity was designed for work, so the previous passage exhorted them not to be lazy, and to work hard and serve the Lord.

In this case, it needs pointing out that the Thessalonian believers may have been getting discouraged from giving to support idle busybodies. If one sees their finances supporting laziness or mismanagement of funds, then they will likely withhold their hard-earned income. So, Paul wants to correct the idle behavior and compel generosity, knowing the Lord is the primary audience of our giving, and He will judge all wrongdoing.

We should note that there is a difference between tiredness and exhaustion.

  • Someone who is exhausted is someone who has worked hard or invested significant time. This person is exhausted from the exertion of effort, and likely has high production. These individuals are good stewards of their resources: time, talent, and treasure. The Christian uses their resources for the glory of God and the good of others.
    • An athlete who trained hard, competes, and succeeds well or even wins a championship. A student who studies and earns good grades and scholarships. A Christian parent who loves and labors day and night for their children. While there are countless sleepless nights, frequent failures, and constant chaos, the legacy is a young person who understands love and faith. A bible teacher who spends several hours each week preparing a lesson for a classroom full of boys and girls. And sometimes those children might divert conversation, but the teacher faithfully points children to God’s truths and reminds them of the loving kindness and forgiving grace of Jesus.  
  • In contrast, someone who is tired is drained physically or spiritually not because of high production but low purpose. They lack motivation and energy because they lack vision for who they are before their Creator, and why they exist in community. So, each task and almost every project is trying and taxing even to begin, or much more complete.

As Christians, our motivation to wake and our strength to work is
… knowing the Lord’s supply.  

  • Isa 40:28 “The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable.”

… knowing the Lord’s salvation.

  • Heb 12:3 “Consider Jesus, who endured from sinners such hostility, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.”

Additional applications about exhausting ourselves in the Lord:

  1. We need to understand when to sprint and when to quit. Some people quit before a breakthrough. The example of the woodpecker knocking 499x and going hungry versus one more thump to receive dinner. Quitting can be troublesome; it can also become contagious in other areas of your life that shifts from troublesome to a tragic pattern. So, be careful.


But… quitting can also be helpful if you realize the payoff is not worth the investment. Knowing when to sprint or when to quit can make a significant and eternal difference.

  • Prov 23:4 “be wise enough to desist.”

    2. We need to understand results are not our responsibility but God’s. Sometimes we can feverishly work and make little discernible impact. Yet, when the Lord is on our side, we know our efforts are never wasted.
    • Gal 6:9 “Let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.”1Pet 5:6 “Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, so that at the proper time He may exalt you.”
    • 1 Cor 15:58 “beloved, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.”

      3. We need to understand the limits to our humanity. God commands us to sabbath – to relax our mind and rest our body and refresh our spirit. If we endlessly spend ourselves without recharging, then our work will be short-lived.

*Live your faith integrated not compartmentalized.

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.

Paul warns the Thessalonians that disobedience to Christian faith should never be normalized. He instructs Christians to separate from willful sinners. It is important to note that Paul does not mean that separation should be permanent. 15 Do not regard him as an enemy but warn him as a brother. The aim of all church discipline is for the person to be ashamed and repent, so that reconciliation can be made.

If sin never has consequences, then it will not only become normalized but promoted as a proper example.

Isaiah 5:20 “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who substitute darkness for light or bitter for sweet.”

If sin never has consequences, then it will not only become normalized but promoted as a proper example.

One of the reasons why Christianity is dwindling in USA is due to the reality that cultural faith is no longer comfortable. For a previous generation, it was easy to compartmentalize their faith. Going to church helped their social profile, whether it was for business or simple family dynamics. People confused church attendance with Christian commitment. Now today, we have people who still claim Christian faith, but they seldom (if ever) show up to church, or much more seriously read their Bible and pray. Parents have even fooled themselves into thinking that if they took a young child to church to learn just enough “Jesus talk,” that their teen years can be spent with extracurricular activities that they believe will get them into college. In all honesty, what we see is true passions being revealed that don’t include God.

If a person claims Jesus as Lord today, then it will cost their reputation. And for the sake of a pure church, this is a good thing. Long live the days of Christians who are willing to say,

“All to Jesus I surrender, All to Him I freely give.
I will ever love and trust Him, In His presence daily live.
All to Jesus I surrender, humbly at His feet I bow,
Worldly pleasures all forsaken, Take me Jesus, take me now.”

There is a common slogan about Las Vegas: “What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas.” It’s like a license to live however you want apart from your known reality or personal consequences. Unfortunately, many people attempt the same for Christianity. Instead of compartmentalizing our faith, we need to integrate Jesus into every aspect of our life. Some ways to help:

  • Talk about Jesus as He is alive and active in your life. We do this with every other family member or friend, so why not our Savior and Lord?
  • Talk about work/friends/family/home at church. Sometimes Christians can attend the same church for decades yet know very little about the personal life of another. So, talk about what is going on in your life, and ask questions for how to apply teachings and faith values in specific circumstances of your life.
  • Tithe your time & treasure at church. Few things will reveal your faith commitment like the way you spend your free time and where you spend your money. Tithing is a practical but powerful way to elevate your attention to Jesus’ Lordship and integrating your faith with all of life.

*Live with the presence of peace and gratefulness of grace from Jesus Christ.

16 Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all. 17 I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. This is the sign of genuineness in every letter of mine; it is the way I write. 18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.

Paul knows these Thessalonians have multiple problems that were not going away anytime soon. In the Hebrew mindset, peace was synonymous with comprehensive well-being physically and spiritually. Shalom was a common greeting among every member of a community; like “hello” or “goodbye.” Yet, it wasn’t just a passive greeting, but an active commitment purposed as a peacemaker in that person’s life.[2] Further, Paul recognized that peace does not come without a relationship with Jesus: The Lord be with you all.

Therefore, Paul’s closing words to people he writes with his own autograph. He signs his name to let the Thessalonians know that his wish for peace includes his devoted prayers and dedicated affection for them.

Supremely, Paul knows that there is no peace without submitting to God’s grace. We cannot have the peace of God until we have peace with God. God’s peace is extended to us through repentance of sin and faith in Jesus Christ (Romans 5:1).

Shalom (peace) wasn’t just a passive greeting, but an active commitment purposed as a peacemaker in that person’s life. Those who have experienced peace with God are called to spread the peace of God to others.

Some ways to practice the peace of God

  • Start and end each day with gratitude – and speak it to others.
    Ps 100:4 “Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise.”

  • Invite the Holy Spirit into your circumstances. Anxiety is imagining a world without Jesus and believing God is not on His throne. So, we need to remember that Jesus is the “Prince of Peace.” This doesn’t mean we fake like we have it all-together, or never have any doubts/problems. Instead, we make ourselves vulnerable by saying, “I need help.” We affirm Isa 26:3 “The Lord keeps the mind that is fixed on Him in perfect peace, for he trusts in God”
    Php 4:6-7 “The Lord is near. Do not worry about anything but in everything through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”

Beyond The Spiral
– What is true vs false.
– What I can do vs frozen stuck.
– How the gospel renews vs feeling forsaken.

APPLY/THINK

We live in a world filled with anxiety, uncertainty, greed, and fear tactics. It is as if we are living in a crowded room and all the voices are crying, “There’s a fire.” And everyone is shouting different ways to respond to the fire:

  • Panic & scream.
  • Find water or extinguishers but there’s not enough due to the size and strength of the fire.
  • Attempting to cover by throwing various items on fire but not realizing they’re only adding more fuel.

Yet, what is needed is one person in the crowded room to simply say,

  • Quiet. Be still.
  • The exit is over there.
  • Follow one at a time to the exit door.

My friends, Jesus is the only exit from this disorienting and disturbing world.

[1] https://biblehub.com/greek/1573.htm

[2] https://www.jtsa.edu/torah/greetings-of-peace/, https://www.crosswalk.com/faith/spiritual-life/what-does-shalom-mean.html,

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