2Th 3:1 Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honored, as happened among you, (ESV)
Two separate ideas struck me as I read through this chapter. First is the verse quoted above. Paul asks for prayer "that the word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honored." As Christians we talk a lot about the need to reach people with the gospel, but do we really understand that ultimately reaching people is not about means and methods? It is about the Spirit of God and the Word of God. Prayer needs to precede evangelism.
The second idea that struck me is found in verse 6:
6 Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from any brother who is walking in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us. (ESV)
When was the last time you heard of a church exercising discipline because a brother was lazy? The passage about sexual immorality we can all quote, or at least refer to. This passage seems to have escaped us. Idleness? Really? Hmmm, maybe God really does take this work thing seriously. Maybe quitting work and doing nothing really shouldn't be our goal in life. Maybe we, as American believers, have bought into the lie of our own culture and not really understood what God is calling us to do or how he is calling us to live.
Interestingly being a busybody is connected with idleness in this passage. Certainly there is a danger of people becoming workaholics. Paul closes the chapter praying that the Thessalonians will experience peace. Some of us are so busy that we never know peace. That is wrong. But, perhaps because of that we value idleness too highly and it becomes our dream and our goal. And when we reach it we then become susceptible to the sin of being a busybody. God hasn't called us to be in everyone else's business. He has called us to diligent about our own business. Maybe that is the real issue.
Father forgive me for my lack of prayer for unbelievers. It is easy to give lip service to evangelism. May I talk less and pray more. Forgive me too for my own laziness. May I honor you today with faithful diligence rather than curious interest in the business of others.
By His grace,
Rick Weinert
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