Worry about Yourself
June 22
Having prayed for the Thessalonians, Paul asks them to pray for him: that God’s Word would spread rapidly and be honored, as it was with them. He asked them to pray that he and his companions would be delivered from wicked and evil people.
Then he reminds this church that God is faithful and would deliver them (the church at Thessalonica) from the evil one. (2 Thessalonians 3:3) Jesus taught his disciples to ask God to deliver them from the evil one. (Matthew 6:13) There is evil in the world, and that evil is driven by the evil one. Paul was able to assure the church that they would be delivered, not from evil in general, but specifically, they would be delivered from the evil one.
I often say that Christianity is all about relationship, not behavior. However, we must see that our relationship with Jesus will motivate and empower behavior that honors Jesus. (2 Thessalonians 3:6; Titus 2:11–12) We weren’t saved so we can live however we want. (Galatians 5:1; 13) We were saved so we may become more like Jesus.
Paul gives an ethical principle that should guide every believer: be diligent about your work. He had already pointed out that he worked so that he wouldn’t be a burden on any of the churches. (1 Thessalonians 2:9) He says – as he had done – don’t be a burden on other people. He says that if someone does not work, he should not eat. Now, this could mean that if I choose to not work, I shouldn’t eat food offered to me by someone else. It also means that if I choose to not work, I shouldn’t be offered food by someone else. Now, if someone is unable to work, that’s an entirely different situation. If someone is unable to work, believers are to offer help.
Following this line of thought, he also says we should busy ourselves doing God’s work and not be busybodies. Someone who is busy is concerned about their own life and responsibilities. A busybody is concerned about someone else’s life.
Finally, Paul tells the church to stay away from lazy people and those who put their noses in other people’s business. He says they are to purposely avoid associating with them. He used the same word in 2 Timothy 3:2–5 when he told his protégé to avoid hypocritical, self-centered people.
Application
Here is a modern-day application of Paul’s instructions in 2 Thessalonians 3:6–13: My dad has always said, “If a job’s worth doing, it’s worth doing right.” He was encouraging me to do everything from the heart, as if I’m doing it for the Lord and not for people. (Colossians 3:23)