Idleness and the Importance of Work in God’s Eyes

I was recently reading an article that highlighted 2 Thessalonians 3:6 to the importance of work. I thought that would be an odd place for a reference to work in the Bible because of my familiarity with the 1 Thessalonians, so I went to the passage to gain context. What I found surprised me. The placement of the mention of work is definitely odd, but the context used in the article was accurate even if at first it didn’t appear so. Here is the stand-alone verse:

^“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.”

The Context

Again, at first, I was skeptical of the use of the verse in the article. It appears that Paul was referring to idleness in their walk with the Lord or something along those lines. However, the rest of the verses provide the context:

^{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.”

This leaves no doubt it is talking about idleness in working/laboring. Paul reminds the people of the example he laid out before them and the command he gave while with them, “If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat.” Those are some powerful words coming from an apostle. That should resound in us.

The Oddity of Placement

What perplexed me the most is the placement of this in the letter to the Thessalonians. The first letter to the Thessalonians from Paul was to encourage new believers in their faith, to exhort them to godly living, to give them assurance about the eternal state of believers who had died and to defend the integrity of his ministry as an apostle. Chapter 4 of 1 Thessalonians talks about living a life pleasing to God which is where I initially thought 2 Thessalonians 3:6 would have been in reference to. The final chapter in the first letter ends talking about the “Day of the Lord”. The second letter picks up on this theme and in the first two chapters Paul discusses “The Judgement at Christ’s Coming” and “The Man of Lawlessness”. In summary, the reasons for Paul’s second letter to the Thessalonians was to:

• Let them know of his boasting of them to other churches for their faith and love for each other.
• Address two recurring problems in their church.
  1. Their concern that the Lord had already returned.
  2. Admonish them not to be idle.

The two recurring problems are peculiar since they seem to be completely different things. Maybe the people’s concern that the Lord had already returned sparked idleness in some. 2 Thessalonians 2:2 says:

² “not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by a spirit or a spoken word, or a letter seeming to be from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come.”

It could be that for some it caused fear/anxiety that led to the idleness. Regardless, I think it is more so indicative of how God views work and laziness. There are multiple verses in Proverbs that reprove laziness. What’s interesting here is that Paul led by example from his convictions and even commanded to not provide for the one who would not work where in other letters he encourages giving to fellow brothers in need Galatians 2:10, Romans 15:25-28, 1 Corinthians 16:1, etc.

Takeaway

Considering the contents of the letters to the Thessalonians it is very interesting that Paul felt obliged to include in his second letter to avoid idleness and work to provide for their own needs. It speaks to his convictions on work even as an apostle. This should also cause us to ponder of the importance of discernment in regards to where we give money benevolently. Paul did not mince his words about the type of care one should receive if they do not work, they shouldn’t eat! It was not the church’s responsibility to provide for them. To summarize, if you are a hard working businessman delight in fact that you are in accord with the tradition that Paul gave to the Thessalonians long ago. As Paul states in 3:13, “do not grow weary in doing good.” If you are idle take note and strive to work quietly and earn your own living. May the Lord give you wisdom.