If you don't work, you don't eat

If you don't work, you don't eat

What would you do if you knew Jesus would come back tomorrow? What about next week? Or next month? Human nature indicates that if we knew the world was going to end in the next twenty-four hours-even in the next thirty days-we'd be less likely to get up for work in the morning. After all, what's the point of working or planning if we are heading for heaven in a few days?

That's what some Thessalonians believed.

They were convinced Jesus' return could happen at any time. That was good. But because they believed that, they essentially stopped working. That was a problem.

Paul's rule was straightforward and sim-ple: "If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat" (2 Thess. 3:10). Yes, expect the Lord's imminent return, but continue being a functioning part of the church and the communi-ty. If they couldn't do that, then they didn't deserve local friendships or outside support.

STUDY THE BOOK

2 Thessalonians 3:6-15

The Thessalonians needed a proper balance between working and waiting. They needed to avoid anyone who "walks disor-derly" and to continue "doing good" (2 Thess. 3:6, 13). Some folks couldn't work, and that was a different matter. But those who could work needed to work-or they needed to face the consequences of their laziness.

MORE INSIGHT

Paul advised another group that needed to adjust their focus regarding work. Paul taught the Ephesians how to live as children of God.

Regarding work, he wrote, "Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need" (Eph. 4:28). Paul challenged those who had selfishly taken from others to generously give to others.