No Work, No Eat 2 Thessalonians 3:10

As Paul the apostle began to complete his final words to the Thessalonian church members, he included an exhortation for them to “follow” he and his companions' working for their own sustenance rather than being supported by the church. He desired not to be “chargeable to any of” them while he shared the gospel of Jesus Christ even though he had the authority to do so. In chapter three and verse ten of his second letter to the Thessalonians, Paul told them “if any would not work, neither should he eat” where we read:

For even when we were with you, this we commanded you,

that if any would not work, neither should he eat.

The verse begins, “For even when we were with you, this we commanded you,...” Paul began with the word, “For” which means “because, even, indeed, no doubt, seeing then, therefore and verily” “even when” or “also, likewise, whenever, as long as” “we” which refers to Paul and his traveling companions “were with you” which refers to the Thessalonian church members physically being in the church members' presence “this we commanded you” or “charged, declared, ordered and transmitted along from one to another”. When Paul and his traveling companions were physically with the Thessalonians, they ordered and directed them toward that which he is about to declare.

The verse goes on to say, “...that if any would not work, neither should he eat.” Paul added, “that if any” which refers to “whoever and any person” “would” or “will, have in mind, intend, resolve, determine, purpose, desire, wish and love” “not work” which means “labor, trade, make gains by trading, do business, perform, commit, cause to exist, earn and acquire” “neither” which means “but not, nor, no not once and so much as” “should he eat” or “devour, take food, eat a meal or consume”. The people who were among the church members who had a mindset and will “not to work” were not to participate in eating.

When we think through these words of Paul, we might be taken back by the directive he gave. The idea was when a person “refused” or “deliberately avoided” working, they were not to partake of the food which was provided. People were not to be aloof, lazy, idle and indolent. They were to participate in the labor force. Many times people who were very capable of working would allow others to do all the work and only participate in the eating of their labors. This was not to be so. We should remember the Lord Jesus as He travelled the earth who although He created it, he was active in “working” as He shared the gospel of His kingdom. We might wonder, who would be starving if the litmus test for eating was whether capable people were working or not? May we hear the Spirit of God as we examine our own lives in the fields of labor and eating.

Next time Paul tells the Thessalonians about people who are “busybodies”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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