| 2 Thess. 3:10-13 ‘For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat. For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but 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.
Here the Bible has a general rule: he who does not work shall not eat. It is therefore apparent that refusing to work is a form of disobeying God. Paul himself used to work though he was a missionary and a propagator of the gospel. He knew he would set a bad example for others if he shunned work. Paul had a real right to depend on the church hence he says in 2 Corinthians 11:7 Have I committed an offence in abasing myself that ye might be exalted, because I have preached to you the gospel of God freely? Freely? What does this mean? It simply means that Paul had the right to charge the church at Corinth for the gospel he took to them. What charges are these? This is not gospel fees but support. Yet Paul worked for his own supply, that he may highlight the importance of working.
I have a colleague at work who told me it has been hard for him to surrender his life to Christ because of his elder born-again brother who has shunned work. He fears that “deep” Christianity may make him behave like his brother, who doesn’t look for a job though he graduated two years ago. He is just crisscrossing the country, attending conferences and Christian gatherings. Is there any wrong with such? No there isn’t and yes there is. No because putting God first is crucial to any person who is aiming to be successful in this age and the age to come. Yes because first he may set a bad example to his siblings as the first-born. Then there comes the question of provision to the family. The ageing parents expect him to help in educating the siblings. Does he? Definitely he doesn’t. Now he depends on his younger brother for provision of personal necessities including clothing. The younger brother explains “I have talked to my elder brother to join full-time ministry or look for a job but he does neither”. How can this chap convince his younger brother that Christ is sweet when he is already a burden to him? How? There’s no way. Consequently his brother fears that “deep faith” may cause him to become careless in life. If this elder brother began working, then his younger brother may consider handing his life over to Christ. The conclusion is that work is important, it is a way of obedience to God; it is a way of preaching the gospel of Christ.
– johnstone katuku
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Extreme of everything is poisonous. Extreme hunger causes starvation and malnutrition. Excess eating cause stomach upsets and pains. Excess rains causes flooding. Excess dearth causes death and devastation. Such is the case in the country I live in. Part of the Kenya is desert while other part borders Indian Ocean, another part is next to a major lake, another part still is highlands known as ‘White Highlands’. The highlands get evenly distributed rains and have become the granary of the country. The land bordering the ocean is lowland and is prone to occasional flooding due to sporadic convectional rains. Same applies to the lake region. In the desert region, things are more pathetic. The herdsmen had to battle with all mannerisms developed by their cattle namely licking droplets of water in dry taps. The image of a cow smelling and licking a dry tap caught the cameras of the cameramen in 2006. Too much rain in the lake and coastal regions has been causing damage. Too much drought in the desert region on the other hand has resulted to devastation.
For some people, Ecclesiastes Two Eleven is the guiding principle when it comes to toiling. “Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had labored to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun”.
Why do I work for no profit then? Those who follow this principle in extremism shun all work and decide to spend time either doing non-profitable things or doing nothing. The end results? I guess everyone knows. An idle mind provides a platform for deceptions of the enemy. That’s what Eve and Adam experienced in the Garden of Eden. Theirs was to move around enjoying the creation. They didn’t look for food as food was there. They didn’t need clothes since they were covered by the glory of God, thus they were not naked. The serpent approached Eve and deceived her. Her wills were strong and her husband could not avoid being deceived too. Humanity got a curse from their action. Genesis 3:19 In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.
Paul has a warning to the church at Thessalonica.
2 Thess. 3:10-13 For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat. For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but 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.
(Catch the action in this page next week)
-johnstone katuku