The One Year Bible Club with Teaching
Commentary by Nick Boork
Commentary by Nick Boork
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October 15 – 2 Thessalonians 3
Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may run swiftly and be glorified, just as it is with you, 2 and that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men; for not all have faith. 3 But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one. 4 And we have confidence in the Lord concerning you, both that you do and will do the things we command you. 5 Now may the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the patience of Christ.
6 But we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly and not according to the tradition which he received from us. 7 For you yourselves know how you ought to follow us, for we were not disorderly among you; 8 nor did we eat anyone’s bread free of charge, but worked with labor and toil night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, 9 not because we do not have authority, but to make ourselves an example of how you should follow us. 10 For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat. 11 For we hear that there are some who walk among you in a disorderly manner, not working at all, but are busybodies. 12 Now those who are such we command and exhort through our Lord Jesus Christ that they work in quietness and eat their own bread.
13 But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary in doing good. 14 And if anyone does not obey our word in this epistle, note that person and do not keep company with him, that he may be ashamed. 15 Yet do not count him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother. 16 Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace always in every way. The Lord be with you all. 17 The salutation of Paul with my own hand, which is a sign in every epistle; so I write. 18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
OKAY, HERE’S MY TEACHING COMMENTARY
In the final portion of Paul’s letter he addresses an issue that was happening at the church in Thessalonica. He calls it walking disorderly and he explains what this means as people that are busy bodies, not employed that spend their time gossiping. Paul actually commands these believers in the name of the Lord Jesus to get a job, work with their own hands and mind their own business. In verse 10 he says “if anyone will not work neither shall eat.” He also mentions that when his apostolic team was in their city they did not demand the rights of apostles to be fed and cared for but rather chose to work for a living not because they did not have the right to receive finances but they did it to be a good example working for a living and not being lazy and depending on others.
From the beginning of creation when God put Adam and Eve in the garden he commanded Adam to work the ground. Genesis 2:15 says “God took the Man and set him down in the Garden of Eden to work the ground and keep it in order.” CEV. So the first job God gave Adam was equivalent to being a farmer. Some would argue that before the fall the earth was blessed and not cursed so it must’ve been very easy to take care of the garden of Eden and this may be true but after the fall God commanded Adam to work but it would be harder now. Genesis 3:19 in the Message says; “The ground will sprout thorns and weeds, you’ll get your food the hard way, planting and tilling and harvesting, sweating in the fields from dawn to dusk.”
The point is that God expects all of us to work for a living and according to the word of God it’s the primary responsibility of the man to provide for his family although some women choose to work today and many times it’s out of sheer necessity that both the husband and wife work to be able to sustain their household because of our modern society and the cost-of-living. When I was a kid growing up my mom and dad were divorced when I was about six years old and I stayed with my mother. In order to provide for our family many time she would work two different jobs and we were also receiving food stamps. Let me tell you it was very embarrassing as a kid to go to the grocery store and watch your mother pull out a package of food stamps provided by the State of Michigan to pay for groceries because everyone knew you were poor. Looking back now, I am thankful that she was able to receive the food stamps and I think that should be a part of compassionate capitalism to help people that really need it but some people just totally abuse the system and don’t want to work at all.
I made a decision early in life through the example of watching my mother work so hard that I would do whatever it takes to have enough money to take care of my needs and this has carried over into my adult life. If you want to win the respect of other people then you need to be able to provide for your family and if it means working hard which most of the time it does then you need to do whatever it takes to provide for your family! I thank God that there have been times of great prosperity in my life as a business owner but then there have been times due to uncontrollable circumstances I’ve found myself needing to get another job after being self-employed for years. I never waited until the perfect job came along but I took whatever I could to to start making money if it meant unloading a truck at a Meijer’s store. I kept going until something better came along. I totally believe in being willing to sacrifice for the gospel which I have done several times in my life as a missionary living overseas.
However, I also believe that you have to take care of your family and plan for the future as well and that means developing a long-term plan of being able to save and have enough income later in life. This is what the wisdom of proverbs teaches us when it gives the timeless example of the hard-working ant that stores up food in summer to have enough during the winter. Proverbs 6:6-11 in the Message say; “You lazy fool, look at an ant. Watch it closely; let it teach you a thing or two. Nobody has to tell it what to do. All summer it stores up food; at harvest it stockpiles provisions. So how long are you going to laze around doing nothing? How long before you get out of bed? A nap here, a nap there, a day off here, a day off there, sit back, take it easy do you know what comes next? Just this: You can look forward to a dirt-poor life, poverty your permanent houseguest!
I’m sure none of us wants to end up in poverty yet that’s what happens with many people. During the summer part of your life when you’re younger it’s time to work hard and save money. The winter time in our lives represents our retirement years when you slow down. So be wise for yourself and follow the wisdom of the hard working ant because winter is coming to all of us. Ultimately our eternal riches are laid up for us in heaven but before we get there we need to make enough money to take care of our families and earn the respect of everyone around us.
WHAT’S THE BOTTOM LINE?
1) Some in the church were lazy and did not want to work for a living.
2) Paul corrected this bad attitude saying if any would not work neither should they eat.
3) Paul worked hard to provide for his needs earning the respect of everyone.
4) God created us for work and he expects us all to be productive citizens
5) Be wise for yourself and follow the example of the hard-working ant. Don’t consume everything that you make but be sure to save money because winter is coming.
PRAYER TO APPLY THE WORD OF GOD TO OUR LIVES
ORDINATION
We provide Ministry Credentials and Ordination through Diamond Ministerial Association. Click to learn more and apply! http://www.diamondinstitute.org/ordination
ONLINE COURSES
For Bible courses and ministry resources see our online school Diamond Institute.
Enroll free today! http://www.diamondinstitute.org/enroll
Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may run swiftly and be glorified, just as it is with you, 2 and that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men; for not all have faith. 3 But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one. 4 And we have confidence in the Lord concerning you, both that you do and will do the things we command you. 5 Now may the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the patience of Christ.
6 But we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly and not according to the tradition which he received from us. 7 For you yourselves know how you ought to follow us, for we were not disorderly among you; 8 nor did we eat anyone’s bread free of charge, but worked with labor and toil night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, 9 not because we do not have authority, but to make ourselves an example of how you should follow us. 10 For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat. 11 For we hear that there are some who walk among you in a disorderly manner, not working at all, but are busybodies. 12 Now those who are such we command and exhort through our Lord Jesus Christ that they work in quietness and eat their own bread.
13 But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary in doing good. 14 And if anyone does not obey our word in this epistle, note that person and do not keep company with him, that he may be ashamed. 15 Yet do not count him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother. 16 Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace always in every way. The Lord be with you all. 17 The salutation of Paul with my own hand, which is a sign in every epistle; so I write. 18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
OKAY, HERE’S MY TEACHING COMMENTARY
In the final portion of Paul’s letter he addresses an issue that was happening at the church in Thessalonica. He calls it walking disorderly and he explains what this means as people that are busy bodies, not employed that spend their time gossiping. Paul actually commands these believers in the name of the Lord Jesus to get a job, work with their own hands and mind their own business. In verse 10 he says “if anyone will not work neither shall eat.” He also mentions that when his apostolic team was in their city they did not demand the rights of apostles to be fed and cared for but rather chose to work for a living not because they did not have the right to receive finances but they did it to be a good example working for a living and not being lazy and depending on others.
From the beginning of creation when God put Adam and Eve in the garden he commanded Adam to work the ground. Genesis 2:15 says “God took the Man and set him down in the Garden of Eden to work the ground and keep it in order.” CEV. So the first job God gave Adam was equivalent to being a farmer. Some would argue that before the fall the earth was blessed and not cursed so it must’ve been very easy to take care of the garden of Eden and this may be true but after the fall God commanded Adam to work but it would be harder now. Genesis 3:19 in the Message says; “The ground will sprout thorns and weeds, you’ll get your food the hard way, planting and tilling and harvesting, sweating in the fields from dawn to dusk.”
The point is that God expects all of us to work for a living and according to the word of God it’s the primary responsibility of the man to provide for his family although some women choose to work today and many times it’s out of sheer necessity that both the husband and wife work to be able to sustain their household because of our modern society and the cost-of-living. When I was a kid growing up my mom and dad were divorced when I was about six years old and I stayed with my mother. In order to provide for our family many time she would work two different jobs and we were also receiving food stamps. Let me tell you it was very embarrassing as a kid to go to the grocery store and watch your mother pull out a package of food stamps provided by the State of Michigan to pay for groceries because everyone knew you were poor. Looking back now, I am thankful that she was able to receive the food stamps and I think that should be a part of compassionate capitalism to help people that really need it but some people just totally abuse the system and don’t want to work at all.
I made a decision early in life through the example of watching my mother work so hard that I would do whatever it takes to have enough money to take care of my needs and this has carried over into my adult life. If you want to win the respect of other people then you need to be able to provide for your family and if it means working hard which most of the time it does then you need to do whatever it takes to provide for your family! I thank God that there have been times of great prosperity in my life as a business owner but then there have been times due to uncontrollable circumstances I’ve found myself needing to get another job after being self-employed for years. I never waited until the perfect job came along but I took whatever I could to to start making money if it meant unloading a truck at a Meijer’s store. I kept going until something better came along. I totally believe in being willing to sacrifice for the gospel which I have done several times in my life as a missionary living overseas.
However, I also believe that you have to take care of your family and plan for the future as well and that means developing a long-term plan of being able to save and have enough income later in life. This is what the wisdom of proverbs teaches us when it gives the timeless example of the hard-working ant that stores up food in summer to have enough during the winter. Proverbs 6:6-11 in the Message say; “You lazy fool, look at an ant. Watch it closely; let it teach you a thing or two. Nobody has to tell it what to do. All summer it stores up food; at harvest it stockpiles provisions. So how long are you going to laze around doing nothing? How long before you get out of bed? A nap here, a nap there, a day off here, a day off there, sit back, take it easy do you know what comes next? Just this: You can look forward to a dirt-poor life, poverty your permanent houseguest!
I’m sure none of us wants to end up in poverty yet that’s what happens with many people. During the summer part of your life when you’re younger it’s time to work hard and save money. The winter time in our lives represents our retirement years when you slow down. So be wise for yourself and follow the wisdom of the hard working ant because winter is coming to all of us. Ultimately our eternal riches are laid up for us in heaven but before we get there we need to make enough money to take care of our families and earn the respect of everyone around us.
WHAT’S THE BOTTOM LINE?
1) Some in the church were lazy and did not want to work for a living.
2) Paul corrected this bad attitude saying if any would not work neither should they eat.
3) Paul worked hard to provide for his needs earning the respect of everyone.
4) God created us for work and he expects us all to be productive citizens
5) Be wise for yourself and follow the example of the hard-working ant. Don’t consume everything that you make but be sure to save money because winter is coming.
PRAYER TO APPLY THE WORD OF GOD TO OUR LIVES
ORDINATION
We provide Ministry Credentials and Ordination through Diamond Ministerial Association. Click to learn more and apply! http://www.diamondinstitute.org/ordination
ONLINE COURSES
For Bible courses and ministry resources see our online school Diamond Institute.
Enroll free today! http://www.diamondinstitute.org/enroll
