Nothing, Part Three (4/7-9)

07-09 April 2015 – “Nothing” Part Three – Manna by Dorothy Callies

1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 KJV, “And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you; That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing.”

Question: How did Paul handle with those Christians who do “nothing” and stay in their idleness in the church? Answer: Paul counseled the church to stop supporting financially and associating with those who persisted in their idleness. Hunger and loneliness can be very effective ways to make the idle person become productive. Paul was not advising coldness or cruelty, but the kind of tough love that a person would show a brother or sister.

Let’s read what Paul wrote on 2 Thessalonians 3:14-15 NLT, “Take note of those who refuse to obey what we say in this letter. Stay away from them so they will be ashamed. 15) Don’t think of them as enemies, but speak to them as you would to a Christian who needs to be warned.

Question: What cause these Christians to think that they didn’t need to work? *Some people in the Thessalonian Church were falsely teaching that because Christ would return any day, people should set aside their responsibilities, quit work, do no future planning, and just wait for the Lord. But their lack” of activity led them into sin. They became a burden to the Church, which was supporting them; they wasted time that could have been used for helping others.

*These church members may have thought that they were being more spiritual by not working, but Paul tells them to be responsible and get back to work. Being ready for Christ means obeying Him in every area of life. Because we know that Christ is coming, we must live in such a way that our faith and our daily practice will please Him when He arrives. [*Notes from QVLAB)

“This should be our ambition: to live a quiet life, minding your own business and working with your hands, just as we commanded you before. As a result, people who are not Christians will respect the way you live, and you will not need to depend on others to meet your financial needs” (1 Thess. 4:11-12 NLT).

This reminds me of Jesus’ words in the “Parable of the Ten Pounds, “Occupy till I come.” What did Jesus do with one of the servant that were lazy and did “nothing” with the pound that the master gave him?

To be continued with Part Four.

SONG: WE’LL WORK UNTIL JESUS COMES

We’ll work … till Jesus comes,

We’ll work … till Jesus comes,

We’ll work … till Jesus comes,

And we’ll be gathered home.

(Elizabeth Mills, Sing His Praise)