The Thessalonian
Epistles
People Problems
2 Thessalonians 3:6-17
Lesson XXVI
Written: August 3, 2005
2 Thessalonians 3:6-17
(6) Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord
Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every
brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the
tradition which he received of us.
(7) For yourselves know how ye
ought to follow us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you;
(8) Neither did we eat any man's bread for nought; but wrought with labour
and travail night and day, that we might not be chargeable to any of you:
(9) Not because we have not power, but to make ourselves
an ensample unto you to follow us.
(10) For even when we were with you, this we commanded
you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.
(11) For we hear that there are some which walk among you
disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies.
(12) Now them that are such we command and exhort by our
Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread.
(13) But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing.
(14) And if any man obey not our
word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may
be ashamed.
(15) Yet count [him] not as an enemy, but admonish [him]
as a brother.
(16) Now the Lord of peace himself give
you peace always by all means. The Lord [be]with you
all.
(17) The salutation of Paul with mine own hand, which is
the token in every epistle: so I write.
Paul
has concluded writing about the faithfulness of God. Now he must face some of the problems created
by the unfaithfulness of men.
From
verse 6 through to verse 12, Paul deals with those at Thessalonica who were
“walking disorderly.” Reading the
context one discovers that he is writing about those who were refusing to work.
And he instructs the saints, “Withdraw yourselves from such.”
We believe Paul’s teaching would not be acceptable nor his teaching
heeded by many today.
1 Timothy 6:5
(5) Perverse disputings of men
of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness:
from such withdraw thyself.
2 Timothy 2:16
(16) But shun profane [and] vain babblings: for they will
increase unto more ungodliness.
In
1 Timothy 6:5, he wrote of some who supposed that “gain is godliness” and there
instructs again “from such withdraw thyself.” He does not suggest one try to
correct such teachers. Then in his last
letter he writes: “But shun profane and
vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness” (2 Timothy 2:16). There are certain things that invade the
Church that we shun, turn from, and from others we just withdraw ourselves.
Ephesians 5:11
(11) And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of
darkness, but rather reprove [them].
Colossians 1:10
(10) That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all
pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of
God;
We
cannot fellowship with the works of darkness for they are unfruitful (Ephesians
5:11).
How
can one say, with kindness, that many Christian works today are simply
unfruitful because the performers of the works are not walking with God.
Notice
Colossians 1:10: “That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being
fruitful in every good work….”
Apart from a walk with God, works for God are unfruitful.
Acts 20:34-35
(34) Yea, ye yourselves know,
that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were
with me.
(35) I have shewed you all
things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the
weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more
blessed to give than to receive.
In
verses 7-9, Paul by his own labour had set an
example, a pattern, for others to follow.
He
states that he “wrought with labour night and day.” When he met with the Elders of the Church at
Then,
what a startling statement follows (verse 10):
“For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any
would not work, neither should he eat.”
Please notice the words “would not work”. It does not say “cannot work”. There are some people with disabilities of
such a nature that they cannot work, and such should be, must be,
supported. But others, some simply
because of their life-style, will not work.
Paul’s remedy for such a problem, “don’t feed them.” At many a wedding we have instructed the
bride that if she discovers that she has married a lazy drone, she is given
permission not to feed him, and she won’t be bothered with him for long!
1 Timothy 5:11-15
(11) But the younger widows refuse: for when they have
begun to wax wanton against Christ, they will marry;
(12) Having damnation, because they have cast off their
first faith.
(13) And withal they learn [to be] idle, wandering about
from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies,
speaking things which they ought not.
(14) I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear
children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak
reproachfully.
(15) For some are already turned aside after Satan.
Another
problem arises when people do not work.
They become busybodies, and that often leads to problems in human
relationships. In 1 Timothy 5:11-15,
Paul gives instruction to young widows.
There is a danger when idle, to become busybodies, so he instructs them
to “marry, bear children and guide the house.”
Necessary work has never hurt anyone.
And when babies are in the house, somebody must work.
1 Peter 4:15
(15) But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or [as] a
thief, or [as] an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters.
Peter
also gives like instruction. “But let
none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody
in other men’s matters” (1 Peter 4:15).
The
Jews have a saying: “He who teacheth not his son a
trade teaches him to be a thief.”
The
Parthian’s custom was “not to give their children any
meat in the morning before they saw the sweat on their faces with some labour.”
We
testify that our parents taught us to work and to this day we are thankful for
that instruction.
Paul
says of those who will not work and are busybodies, “Now them that are such we
command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and
eat their own bread.” The seriousness of
this instruction is seen when one realizes that this is the commandment of the
Lord. True Christianity does not
encourage laziness.
To
the Church he writes: “But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing.” Don’t become weary in doing what is
right. Simply do right because it is right.
Ephesians 6:1
(1) Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is
right.
Remember
when Paul wrote the Ephesian letter, he wrote:
“Children obey your parents in the Lord.” Why?
“For
this is right.” (Ephesians 6:1). And no
other reason need be given. Do right because
it is right.
Of
those who will not work and continue to ignore Paul’s instruction, we read: “And
if any man obey not our word of this epistle, note
that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed.” In other words, avoid him in order to teach
him. This is God’s cure for lazy people!
Lest
we become too harsh, Paul adds: “Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish
him as a brother.”
Galatians 6:1
(1) Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which
are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of
meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.
Galatians
6:1 should always be remembered in such cases.
“Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual,
restore such an one in the spirit of meekness;
considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.” Remember, in every case one can say, “There
go I but for the grace of God.”
The
letter concludes: “Now the God of peace
himself give you peace always by all means.”
John 16:33
(33) These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye
might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer;
I have overcome the world.
John 14:27
(27) Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you:
not as the world giveth, give I
unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
Jesus
said in John 16:33, “These things have I spoken unto you, that in me ye might
have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I
have overcome the world.” In our
troubled and troubling world, the only source of personal peace is from and in
our Lord Jesus Christ. To his disciples
he said: “Peace I leave with you, my
peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not
your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (John 14:27).
Paul
takes up the pen and adds his signature to the letter with a benediction: “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.
Amen.”
You
will find Paul’s prayers for the saints in all his letters. But is there a greater prayer to be offered
for saints than that “the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit”? I think not.
What
saints need to learn above all else is the truth of the grace of God. The grace that saves,
sanctifies and satisfies.
May
Our Lord add His blessing to the lessons as you read them.
Amen
and Amen.