May 23, 2022
Don't Make Me Stop This Car!
2 Thessalonians 3
Robert Richardson
Central Truth
Following Christ is hard work that often seems beyond our abilities, but you can't beat the eternal benefit plan.
Key Verse | 2 Thessalonians 3:13
As for you, brothers, do not grow weary in doing good.
2 Thessalonians 3
Pray for Us
1 Finally, brothers, 1 3:1 Or brothers and sisters; also verses 6, 13 pray for us, that the word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honored, 2 3:1 Or glorified as happened among you, 2 and that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men. For not all have faith. 3 But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one. 3 3:3 Or evil 4 And we have confidence in the Lord about you, that you are doing and will do the things that we command. 5 May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ.
Warning Against Idleness
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. 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. 4 3:12 Greek to eat their own bread
13 As for you, brothers, do not grow weary in doing good. 14 If anyone does not obey what we say in this letter, take note of that person, and have nothing to do with him, that he may be ashamed. 15 Do not regard him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother.
Benediction
16 Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all.
17 I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. This is the sign of genuineness in every letter of mine; it is the way I write. 18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.
Listen to the Podcast
Listen NowDive Deeper | 2 Thessalonians 3
When the words roll off your tongue, you realize, "I sound just like my dad [or mom]!" Invariably, this occurs when you have children, and you repeat your parents' most notable phrases—usually to rolled eyes. Any of these sound familiar? "Money doesn't grow on trees." "Because it builds character." Or my childhood favorite, which applies to our passage today: "If you don't work, you don't eat."
In 2 Thessalonians 3, Paul returns to the subject of idleness, which he addressed in his earlier letter to the believers in Thessalonica: "[A]dmonish the idle" (1 Thessalonians 5:14). It appears that a minority of the church members were still misbehaving, interfering with the work of others and generally being unruly. Paul makes it clear his prior admonition was a command in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, not a suggestion. "For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat." (2 Thessalonians 3:10) It brings another parental phrase to mind, one which meant my behavior needed to change immediately: "Don't make me stop this car!"
Growing up in my family meant we were enrolled very early in the "Richardson School for Responsible Living." Hard work was expected, so 2 Thessalonians 3 was a familiar (and sometimes unpopular) chapter to me. It wasn't until later in my life that I noticed a significant verse tucked between Paul's admonitions and instructions. Specifically, Paul turns to the faithful majority in 2 Thessalonians 3:13 and urges them to "not grow weary in doing good." What does this mean? Some followers were goofing off and being mischievous, but Paul says to pay them no attention. He acknowledges following Christ is tiring and often challenging, but reminds us in 1 Corinthians 12:12-27 about the value we each bring to the kingdom of God as various parts of the body.
We've each got a significant part to play, designed specifically by God and utilizing our unique skills. No one else can handle our specific kingdom assignments. So, don't "idle" or even stop your car. Keep plowing ahead and doing good.
Discussion Questions
1. Do you have any favorite (or annoying) parental sayings from your childhood? Wanna bet you'll probably repeat them someday (if not already)?
2. Would you consider work to be a curse or a blessing?
3. Do you struggle with idleness? Conversely, do you struggle with overwork? What would you say causes you to lean one way or the other?
4. Have you discovered the unique gifts God has bestowed upon you? Have you ever taken a spiritual gifts assessment? If not, check out this handy link: my.watermark.org/SpiritualGifts
5. We all grow tired from time to time. How do you recharge your battery and keep from growing weary in doing good?