The Responsibility Of Discipleship
By Rev. Ron Purkey
Guest Columnist
Read: 2 Thessalonians 3:6-15
“For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies.” (2 Thessalonians 3:11)
One of our Christian’s responsibilities in following Christ is to have a good attitude toward work. Many people want Christ without responsibility. Jesus was not a dropout. As a carpenter, he worked hard with his hands. The Apostle Paul made tents for a living while he carried on the work God called him to do. Whatever work a Christian does is done unto the Lord. We should do our best at whatever our trade or vocation. We should be faithful, clean and honest.
In the days of the apostles, some of the believers had misapplied the teaching concerning the return of Christ. “If the Lord is coming back soon,” they reasoned, “then we ought to give up our jobs and wait for him to come.” Down through the ages, fringe groups have made this same mistake. They have left the world, gone off to a mountain, and waited for the Lord to come back, only to return home embarrassed. How foolish people can be when they resist the clear teaching of the Bible (the word of God). The Apostle Paul admonished the true believers to withdraw from these lazy Christians who were disobeying the word of God, that the offenders might be ashamed and correct their foolish ways (2 Thessalonians 6 and 14). The faithful were to treat the offenders as brothers and sisters, not as enemies; but they were not to put up with their sins.
He pointed back to his own teaching and example. While with them, Paul worked with his own hands and supported himself and his co-laborers (see 1 Thessalonians 2:9-12; Acts 20:33-35). He had repeatedly taught them to work faithfully as Christians and care for their own needs. “If any man does not work, he should not eat” (see 2 Thessalonians 3:10) was the principle Paul followed. Of course, the church cared for those who had honest needs and could not work (see Acts 6; 1 Timothy 5); but the church is not obligated to help those who are able to work but who will not. Those who refuse to work become busybodies; they have time on their hands, and they interfere with other people’s business. This creates a bad testimony to the unsaved (see Colossians 4:5). The truth of the second coming of Christ ought to impel us to work harder and to be faithful to obey his word.
When faithful Christians see unfaithful Christians living as they do, it often discourages them. “What’s the use,” they say. The Apostle Paul encourages them, “Be not weary in well-doing. Don’t give up.” (2 Thessalonians 3:13) Let’s be found faithful when Jesus comes again and we have to stand before him and answer for our actions.
Read Ron Purkey’s free Bible study outlines at rcpbibleoutlines.com. Purkey has been an ordained Baptist minister for 50 years.