2 Thessalonians 3

Paul's understanding of Christ and the life to come is very impressive. One might assume that a man like him would not be begging a church of new believers for their prayers, but that is not the case. He understands that the prayers of others can make a tremendous difference in the progress of the word of the Lord. This is all so shocking. God is obviously in charge of everything. Scripture and reason insist on His almighty power and authority. And yet, in His wisdom He has determined that the progress of the communication of the most important message that men can speak or write about would have something to do with weak and ignorant people talking to the Lord about it all and asking Him for success for those He sends forth.

Not only does Paul ask this new church to pray for speed in the spreading of the message of Christ. They are also to ask the Lord that this Word would be honored among men. We do not ask God these things because He is not in charge, but because He is in charge, and He has determined that we are to be engaged not only in the speaking of His truth to others, but also in desiring that this truth will be well-received.

This does not mean that there will not be those who hate the message, and that it will not be opposed by evil men. But we do ask the Lord that we be delivered from evil. Paul understands that not all have faith. Some have heard the message of Christ and the cross and they have chosen to reject it, and even to attack it. Many others refuse to hear it at all, deciding that they hate it before they have been exposed to the content of the good news in any serious way. But though many people have no faith, this cannot change the faithfulness of the Lord, who helps His servants as they face the opposition, not only of men, but of the evil one himself who opposes God and the people who are called by the Lord's Name.

If we have confidence that the church will survive through tribulation and that individual Christians will find courage in the face of persecution, our confidence is not in good men, but in the Lord who died for us and who rules over all. He is the One who hears us when we pray, and He will glorify His Name. If any church shows perseverance in the apostolic message and method, all the credit belongs to God, who directs our hearts in the way of love and steadfastness.

This understanding of the sovereignty of God, and the importance of prayer does not mean a passive approach to living. Some within the church in Thessalonica had a problem with idleness, and the Apostle Paul corrected them on this matter, both in person and in writing. More than that, Paul and His team had set an example of hard work for the church through the way that they conducted themselves in their presence. Though they may have had a right to the support of others, they paid for their bread. This gave the church an important example of Christian living worthy of emulation.

When people are unwilling to work hard, they will end up looking for entertainment somewhere else, rather that through engagement in honest labor. They may end up inserting themselves in the lives of others in ways that are not helpful, but destructive. God has provided a natural corrective to ward off unproductive laziness: hunger. If we do not work, we will not eat. If the church continually gives money to those who should be working, but apparently will not do so, they are not helping the situation, but preventing hunger from doing its important work of battling indolence.

For those who were working hard in the church, they needed to continue in this quiet and good way, and not grow weary in doing good. This doing good includes minding their own affairs, doing an honest day's work for an honest wage, and seeking to bring comfort with a kind heart to those who are destitute. Those who refused this instruction concerning the way of work and merciful care for the weak might need to be warned of the dangers of their present way of living. If they persisted in this destructive behavior, they might even need to be excluded from the list of those who were known to be faithful church members, since those who try to make their living off of the church and are unwilling to work hard, if they truly could be more diligent, are actually stealing the Lord's money.

Christ our King quietly worked the work that only He could accomplish. His life required that excellent combination of labor and generous giving that was necessary for our salvation. His works of righteousness for our sake were very difficult and exhausting, He not only accomplished all that was necessary, but then, according to the terms of the covenant of grace, all the fruits of His efforts were given lavishly to us. This is how the great Lord of peace has extended His perfect rest to us. He worked for our salvation, and gave Himself freely that our hope in Him would be sure and full. This is how the grace of God has come to us. Jesus did not steal it; He earned it, and then He freely gave it to us as His perfect gift. This was a gift that many in Thessalonica had received, and so many, though new in the faith, were using that gift well by living a life of loving labor in the face of persecution and trouble, empowered as they were by the security of a hope that Jesus had worked so diligently to give to them.