Thursday, October 15

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2020

"In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command you, brothers and sisters, to keep away from every believer who is idle and disruptive and does not live according to the teaching[a] you received from us. For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example. We were not idle when we were with you, nor did we eat anyone's food without paying for it. On the contrary, we worked night and day, laboring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you. We did this, not because we do not have the right to such help, but in order to offer ourselves as a model for you to imitate." (2 Thessalonians 3:6-9)


In this final chapter of 2 Thessalonians, Paul exhorts his friends at Thessalonica, whom he had met for just a short period of three weeks, to persevere in light of their relationship with Christ and in imitation of Paul. Some of the Thessalonians apparently had come to believe that Christ's return, while certain and possible at any time, exempted them from engagement in the world, particularly in the area of work. Their idleness, perhaps initially motivated by their faith, had become a stumbling block for them and others.

Even before the Fall, work existed. God gave Adam and Eve assignments, which were likely a great joy. God has given them the responsibility of caring for the Garden and naming the birds and animals. With the Fall, however, we understand that our relationship with God became corrupted and that our work would become a burden. The effects of sin, such as jealously, distrust, and anger, would cause disconnects between colleagues, whereas Adam and Eve had coexisted peacefully prior to the Fall.

Yet, in spite of the Fall, the Scriptures give multiple accounts of God's servants living a righteous life and, in the process, honoring God through their work. Two of my personal heroes, Joseph and Daniel, served as trusted lieutenants for powerful people. These rulers gave them challenging roles, including meaning-laden dreams and visions, but Joseph and Daniel interpreted them with the help of the Holy Spirit. They provided godly counsel to the rulers and protected the lives of their people. Daniel explicitly avoided corrupting himself with Bablyon's food. Even under pressure, he maintained his commitment to God, trusting God to support Him through it all.

How do people view our work? What messages are we giving by it? How can we become more like Joseph, Ruth, Daniel, or Esther?


Lord God, thank You for giving us clarity on the place of work in the lives of Your servants. Help us to honor You through difficult times and to provide a glimpse of Your extraordinary work through ordinary people. Strengthen us with insight and confidence in Your providence. In Jesus's mighty Name, amen.


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