Terry Storch

Writing about life, leadership, faith, and anything else I find interesting.

2 Thessalonians 3 - Warning Against Idleness

 

2 Thessalonians 3 - Warning Against Idleness

So many directions and thoughts are flooding my mind with chapter 3 of 2 Thessalonians. Most versions of the Bible highlight the majority of this chapter as a “Warning Against Idleness.” This seems a little odd going back to the central message of this letter is correcting and clarifying The Day of the Lord. Remember, 1 & 2 Thessalonians are Ecological epistles. This is a huge word that just means letters about the end times. 1 Thessalonians is a focus on Jesus Christ and his church, and 2 Thessalonians is about the anti-Christ and the world.

Zooming into 2 Thessalonians, we can now see three main blocks of teaching in this letter. Chapter one is about hope in the middle of persecution. Two is clarity on the coming day of the Lord, and we are now diving into the warning against idleness. Again, I am a little stuck on why this messaging, and what was going on in Thessalonica? But I am not going to worry or get stuck on the why let's just take this at face value, Paul spent the majority of his closing of this letter to focus on idleness, being a busybody and laziness. 

“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.” - ‭‭2 Thessalonians‬ ‭3:11-12‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Ok, I am back on the why. Maybe people believed Jesus was coming, and if that was the case, why spend my time working and laboring. That would be a waste of effort and energy! Let’s relax, party, and live it up waiting on Jesus to return. Never the less, no matter the reason, Paul corrects this thinking and behavior. 

“In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command you, brothers and sisters, to keep away from every believer who is idle and disruptive and does not live according to the teaching you received from us.” - ‭‭2 Thessalonians‬ ‭3:6‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Paul has a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to idleness and laziness, no matter the situation and circumstances. Paul hit this in his first letter as well, and he is circling back to this topic again. 

Yet we urge you, brothers and sisters, to do so more and more, and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.” - ‭‭1 Thessalonians‬ ‭4:10-12‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Here Paul reminds them that working, having this dignity and work ethic will help with the respect of outsiders, as well as the importance of being self-sufficient. And just in case you might not think Paul is serious about this, check this out:

“For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: “The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat.” - ‭‭2 Thessalonians‬ ‭3:10‬ ‭NIV‬‬

A pretty harsh or maybe strong and heavy-handed close from Paul. What is our take away, what do we do with this? What pressed into my spirit this morning as I was reading this was our actions critically important. Yes, our words are important, but nothings communications our believe and our commitments better than our actions. Imitating Paul and Paul imitates, Jesus is best modeled with actions, in the day in and the day out. Not much more shines a light on the day in and day out than our work. And if we get bored with the mundane and the day in and day out, then reflect on this.

“And as for you, brothers and sisters, never tire of doing what is good.” - ‭‭2 Thessalonians‬ ‭3:13‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Following this example and leaning heavily into Paul’s broad teaching pushes us to realize it is not about us. This work, this doing and labor, is others-focused. So, there is no way to interpret these words and messaging to pad our pockets, work for our ego, and serve own desires. This effort and work is to imitate Jesus, to win the respect of the outsiders, ultimatly doing what is good! 

Lord may we live a life with purpose and with passion to serve and honor you with all of our lives. My our labor and day in and day out actions honor and glorify you. Father help us recognize the importance of serving and living a life of purpose. 

other writing
John 20 - The Gospel

John 20 - The Gospel

The Gospel, the Good News! Jesus, Son of God, was born of Mary, lived as the Son of Man, died, and rose to life to rescue the world and bring about a new life. The central message of the gospel. Jesus, the centerpiece! John 19 & 20 cover the brutal death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus.

In this scene, I can not imagine how the disciples felt. John describes them as overjoyed...but those words just fall short of what I can imagine this moment was like.

John 19 - The Magnitude of the Cross

John 19 - The Magnitude of the Cross

The day of Jesus' crucifixion fulfilled 28 Old Testament prophecies. Scripture was fulfilled! Beyond that, trying to wrap my mind around what happened this day, on the cross, and fully grabbing the magnitude of the cross is mind-boggling.

Sure, we can dumb this down or simplify it to a place where I just don’t believe it is anywhere near accurate. We can get into penal substitution and argue over was God full of love or was God full of wrath and hate that he killed his son. To me, John 3:16 is pretty clear on the love part.

John 18 - Jesus levels an army

John 18 - Jesus levels an army

In John 18, we come to the great betrayal. Judas came with the soldiers, officials, and chief priest and Pharisees. We know the scene. But this morning, I saw something I don’t remember reading and surly don’t remember learning about.

“So Judas came to the garden, guiding a detachment of soldiers and some officials from the chief priests and the Pharisees. They were carrying torches, lanterns and weapons. Jesus, knowing all that was going to happen to him, went out and asked them, “Who is it you want?” “Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “I am he,” Jesus said. (And Judas the traitor was standing there with them.) When Jesus said, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground.” - ‭‭John‬ ‭18:3-6‬ ‭NIV‬‬

John 17 - The Lords Prayer

John 17 - The Lords Prayer

John 17 is Jesus looking heavenward and praying to God the Father. So much beauty and mystery in this prayer. One thing that jumps out to me is that Jesus, fully God, and fully man prayed. Jesus is God fully. Why did he need to pray, He was One with the Father, He was God...and yet he prayed. This is so powerful;

“And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.” - ‭‭John‬ ‭17:5‬ ‭NIV‬‬

John 16 - What does it take to believe?

John 16 - What does it take to believe?

By the end of John 16, Jesus had done countless miracles, preached some amazing sermons, transformed so many lives, and developed a close and personal relationship with his disciples. So, when reading these verses, I am just utterly confused on so many levels.

“I came from the Father and entered the world; now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father.” Then Jesus’ disciples said, “Now you are speaking clearly and without figures of speech. Now we can see that you know all things and that you do not even need to have anyone ask you questions. This makes us believe that you came from God.” “Do you now believe?” Jesus replied.” - ‭‭John‬ ‭16:28-31‬ ‭NIV‬‬

John 16 - Undervaluing God in Spirit

John 16 - Undervaluing God in Spirit

Jesus’ time on earth is quickly coming to a close, and he finishes up his last sermon or teaching to his disciples as they walk to Gethsemane. This final teaching was a heavy one that no doubt left his disciples with a heavy heart. Jesus said it this way;

“...None of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ Rather, you are filled with grief because I have said these things.” - ‭‭John‬ ‭16:5-6‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Jesus goes on to say;

John 15 - Constant Growth

John 15 - Constant Growth

We were built for growth, constant growth. From birth, all the way until our death, we were designed by God for constant growth. The problem is, we often can find ourselves stuck in a belief, a phase, or a part of life where we stop growing.

One of the most brilliant investors embodies this understanding. Charlie Munger, at 96 years old, is still learning and growing as a person. I love this quote:

“Knowing what you don’t know is more useful than being brilliant.”
- Charlie Munger

John 14 - The Gift of Peace

John 14 - The Gift of Peace

John 14 opens with Jesus, saying, Don’t let your hearts be troubled. And the chapter closed down with Jesus saying Don’t be troubled or afraid.

A message that needs to resonate with our spirit and our inner self. This was such a good reminder, reading through John 14 over and over. This passage lifted off the screen.

“But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you. “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart…

John 14 - Troubled Hearts

John 14 - Troubled Hearts

The world today seems so volatile and chaotic. Everywhere you look, whatever we read and see on TV just seems to be troubling. Last night, I noticed my lovely wife Tweeted this;

“I can’t be the only one who watches the news and is simply embarrassed right now, right? (Dear Jesus, we tap out. Come on back.)”

I find this first humorous, but then I also find it sad. It’s true, watching the news as a Christ-follower is pretty embarrassing. In John 14, we see Jesus…

John 13 - Unselfish Concern

John 13 - Unselfish Concern

Summarizing John, chapter 13, looks like this. The Lords Supper takes place. Jesus washes the disciple's feet. Jesus calls out Judas, and Satan enters him. Night comes, Judas leaves, and Jesus says he must go, and where I am going, you can not come. To cap it all off, Jesus also calls out Simon Peter and tells him that he will deny and completely disown Jesus three times. Whoa, a really full chapter, and historical day.

Nestled in the wrap up of the day is the parting message Jesus leaves his disciples, a message Jesus is sharing with us right now.

 
thoughtsTerry Storch