This week in our study of 1 Thessalonians, we are learning what the Apostle Paul teaches about work. In the previous post, we studied Paul’s principle of working hard. That principle of hard work, Paul says, is for a very important reason.
Notice in verse 12 that working hard and not being dependent on others, Paul says, wins the respect of outsiders. “Outsiders” is Paul’s way of referring to people who are not currently followers of Jesus. Paul is saying that how we work and manage our money can invite people to become followers of Jesus or it can repel them away from Jesus.
Think about the people in your life who you suspect are not followers of Jesus. They can observe the way you go about your life. Are you a hard worker? Are you living within your means? Are you striving to live simply, and give generously, sacrificially?
How you work and how you use the money God gives you says a lot about your heart. About what is important to you. People will notice that. Does your spending line up with what you say Jesus is teaching? People will get an impression about Jesus as they observe your choices. People will see if you are following Jesus’ teaching about money or not.
Then skim over to chapter 5, verse 14, and notice the phrase Paul uses, “warn those who are idle.”
Notice the spelling. I-D-L-E. Paul is not talking about I-D-O-L, worshiping idols or false gods. Sounds identical when you say these words fast. But they are different.
The word idle is “refusing to work, lazy.”
In Paul’s next letter to the Thessalonian Christians, the topic of idleness comes up again. Here’s what he says in 2 Thessalonians 3:7–12,
“We were not idle when we were with you, nor did we eat anyone’s food without paying for it. On the contrary, we worked night and day, laboring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you. We did this, not because we do not have the right to such help, but in order to offer ourselves as a model for you to imitate. For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: “The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat.” We hear that some among you are idle and disruptive. They are not busy; they are busybodies. Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the food they eat.”
Let me repeat what I mentioned in a previous post, work is good. Unless the work is sinful or unethical, work is good. Doesn’t matter if your work is blue collar or white collar. Doesn’t matter if you are working with your hands, or if you are working with your mind. Doesn’t matter if the world views your work as worthy of a high salary or a low salary. Doesn’t matter if you sit at a desk or work in a factory or a hospital or a school. Your work is good.
Don’t get me wrong. You might be dissatisfied with your work. You might want to do something different. You might want a higher salary. I’m not saying that because your work is good, you shouldn’t try to advance.
We can be satisfied and dissatisfied at the same time. Satisfied in God, knowing that he will keep his promises, and thus we remain faithful to him. But also dissatisfied in wanting to grow, learn, advance.
When you follow what Paul is suggesting here, you will work hard. John Wesley famously said, “Earn all you can, save all you can, so you can give all you can.” Earn all you can. Work hard.
Part of working hard can include a willingness to step out of your comfort zone. Learn new things, try different experiences, even including a significant change of work.
I recently published a book. It was a lot of work over a few years, starting with my doctoral program. Sometimes writing the book was super frustrating. Editing, for example. So much editing.
Then it was done. Then it was published! It felt great. Until my wife and I realized that in this day and age, when the marketplace is saturated with millions of books, my book is not going to sell itself. I had to get back on social media. My wife creates content that I post on my accounts. I had to get in touch bookstores and traditional media. Not just writing the book, but also selling the book is work. But it is honorable work. It was especially good because it pushed me out of my comfort zone, in hopes that the message of the book will help people and organizations.
Photo by Alice Dietrich on Unsplash
Engaging Scripture 
Quite insightful posts
Thank you!