Free Bible Commentary
“2 Thessalonians 3:6-13”
Categories: 2 Thessalonians“Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from every brother who leads an unruly life and not according to the tradition which you received from us. For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example, because we did not act in an undisciplined manner among you, nor did we eat anyone’s bread without paying for it, but with labor and hardship we kept working night and day so that we would not be a burden to any of you; not because we do not have the right to this, but in order to offer ourselves as a model for you, so that you would follow our example. For even when we were with you, we used to give you this order: if anyone is not willing to work, then he is not to eat, either. For we hear that some among you are leading an undisciplined life, doing no work at all, but acting like busybodies. Now such persons we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ to work in quiet fashion and eat their own bread. But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary of doing good.”
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“If Anyone is not willing to work, then he is not to eat, either” (verse 10). Some people are not ABLE to work, and God would never require us to do something that we have not the capacity to do. But there are others who are not WILLING to work. No matter how great a sense of entitlement that the sluggard may possess, in God’s economy he should not be rewarded for his lack of contribution and self-motivation. Where willingness to work meets with ability and opportunity, great blessings from God ensue. “Every man who eats and drinks sees good in all his labor—it is the gift of God” (Ecclesiastes 3:13). “The sleep of the working man is pleasant…” (Ecclesiastes 5:12).
“For we hear that some among you are…acting like busybodies” (verse 11). When people are not busy about the Lord’s business and their own business, they will likely keep their noses firmly planted in other people’s business. Let’s remember Paul’s command to these brethren and God’s will for His people the world over: “Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life and attend to your own business and work with your hands” (1 Thessalonians 4:11). When our hands are idle and our minds are unfocused we tend to drift into regions of unprofitability and even sinfulness.
“Do not grow weary of doing good” (verse 13). No matter what other people may choose to spend their time doing, God’s faithful must consistently maintain the pursuit of His good will. We all get tired, no matter how we choose to expend our energy. We grow weary when we study hard and work hard and play hard. But we must take great care to never grow weary in doing what is good and right and appropriate. There is, and always will be, an internal struggle between our willing spirits and our weak flesh that churns within each of us. And that battle is tiresome. But if we keep trying and keep fighting, God will give us the strength to overcome, and we will gain the victory through our dynamic faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Please read 2 Thessalonians 3:14-15 for tomorrow.
Have a blessed day!
- Louie Taylor
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