You Can Keep at It - 2 Thessalonians 3:1-18

When I was a teenager back on the farm, we finally got a battery operated radio and I started listening to the Cardinals play baseball. Television came into being in the early 50s, and I started watching the Cardinals; and I still watch a baseball game occasionally, but only if the Cardinals are playing. Football became popular, and I have gone to see the Razorbacks a few times, and watch them play often. It matters not whether it is baseball or football; there is always a player or two that the team depends upon for a miracle win. Any time a good team loses, you can be assured that some of the great players let down…they fail to keep at it. It just seems to be one of the rules of the game. Winning as a Christian depends upon the same rule. When we let down or when we do not keep at it, our game of Christian life winds up with a loosing score, and the sad thing is it usually affects someone else in a negative way.

In our church, there are some of the players that seem to be fired up and in a winning mood any time you talk to them or observe them in their Christian walk. Sorry, but the opposite is also true with some. If you will think about this a minute, you will be able to think of Christians that fit both categories. I am really concerned and often wonder why anyone will submit their life to Christ, accept his grace and then fail to obey him to the best of their ability. A slothful Christian holds the Church back and prevents it from being a winning church in the same way that a non-committed player can harm a good football or basketball team. It is really easier to be a faithful and winning Christian because all Christ expects is that we give 100 percent of our effort, and almost every coach demands 110 percent. How can you judge your performance? Christ said that if you “Love me” you will keep my commandments. What are these commandments? If you are faithful, read the book and find what He says we should do to be faithful.

Paul held a three week revival in Thessalonica and won many to the Lord. He then wrote his first letter to help them clear up some confusion in the church and find their way to serve. When he found that there were some still in doubt and wavering, he wrote his second letter that has three major directions in it. The first chapter tells them that even though they are persecuted, God is still fair and will sustain them and punish the persecutors. In chapter two he tried to help them understand the second coming and help them to know that they had to remain steadfast to the end. In the third chapter of this book he encouraged believers to pray for him and for each other. Then he addressed the problem of unfaithfulness, and accused them of failing to do their part of the work in the church; and even more important he reminded them that they were disrupting the work of faithful Christians.

V-1-3. Note that Paul calls them brothers, so he is talking to Christian people, and not the persecutors. He called them brothers because he had a strong and affectionate feeling for them. Read between the lines and you will see that beneath the surface of the daily life of those in the church there was an invisible power holding them back. He indicates that their first line of defense was daily prayers for each other beseeching God to give them strength to overcome.

In Paul’s day it was, as is true today, the only useful living is Godly living; it requires self-discipline and choices made with a purpose in mind. Once saved, the Christian faith does not advance automatically; it takes determination and right choices on our part. You will find that this process is called “obedience” and requires some sacrifice. All through this chapter, Paul commanded the Thessalonians to focus on respectable and responsible living and to hold tightly to orthodox belief. This was then and still is the only way to be useful in God’s kingdom.

In this letter, Paul requested prayer for the missionaries that the gospel might spread through their ministry. He expressed his confidence in them to follow his instructions; and then warned them again to act with integrity and purpose because laziness was shameful and disobedience was intolerable. Paul ask for intercessory prayer from all Christians—that they would pray for the gospel to move forward and that people would respond in faith.

If you are not a regular worker in the church and if you are seldom involved in active mission work and intercessory prayer you are being singled out by Paul in verses six and beyond. Dedicated workers are instructed to stay away form you and not have anything to do with you. Dedicated and working members are to stay away from every one who is idle. Paul said that he and his workers were not idle while thy lived and taught with them—and they did not expect the church to feed them. They paid their own way. They worked night and day and were not a burden to anyone. They did this to set an example for the church to follow: and their point was that if a man won’t work he has no right to eat. Oh, how I love this teaching. It fits so well into one of our major problems in America today. A great number feel that they are the depressed and that the prosperous people owe them a living. There are some families that have gone into the fifth generation or more living on welfare. The bible teaches that if they will not work, they should not eat. I believe God’s word. Read verse 10 again for yourself.

Paul teaches us that if we are not busy at something that is worthwhile that it is human nature to find someone’s business in which we can get involved. A man that is not busy at something worthwhile is a busybody causing problems. There is a vast difference in leisure and idleness. It is no coincident that the week is divided as it is. There is one day set aside for worship and service to God. Sunday. There is one day set aside for rest and recreation. Saturday. There are five days set aside for us to work to make a living for our family. Not everyone can adhere to this schedule without exception, but faithful followers of Christ will find that something close to this ratio can be worked into their life’s schedule.

I hope we can bring this discussion right down to where you and I are living today. I have been involved in public education of your children most of my adult life and will be happy to share with you why I think God called me…and why I believe that I was called into the education field.

What do you think of your job, position, assignment in relation to what God expects of his workers here on earth? Don’t become jittery about this question because I assure you that there is no honorable assignment outside of God’s will. He is omnipotent and needs no one, but at the same time he can use anyone that will surrender their life to him.

What is your attitude toward work? If you have worked [struggled] all you life and still have needs—does someone owe you? Should others be expected to meet your needs? What did Paul preach about this?

At what point, and under what conditions can you expect others to assume some responsibility for you’re circumstances that you are experiencing? If Christ was running our welfare program in America—what changes would be made? Would America consider Christ a conservative or liberal? God’s word speaks to us and helps us relate to his plan for his people. I think he taught us to be conservative in living and liberal in giving.