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

Today’s Scripture Reading (November 29, 2014): 2 Thessalonians 3

A little while ago I had an interesting conversation with an old-timer over what he would call the “socialist state in North America.” In his words, when he was young “if you didn’t work, you didn’t eat!” It wasn’t the first time that I had heard the argument, although admittedly I think the current system with all of its problems is better than letting people starve, but at the same time I also understand the frustration. Every year as we get a little closer to the Christmas Season (Advent 2014 begins tomorrow) I begin the task of considering what can be done about those in need within my circle of influence. And inevitably the conversation hovers between those in need because of the negative circumstances in their lives (unavoidable job loss, serious illness and other things beyond human control) and those who are in need even though they have received much. but have mishandled the things that things that they have been given. (And usually my response is that it’s Christmas so let’s cut them some slack.) But usually, and this year is no different, the list of those in need is much longer than our ability to help.

Sometimes we forget that the Bible has something to say about our lives as a whole – and not just the spiritual part of our lives. And the early church was facing a serious problem. Specifically there was a group of people who were apparently too spiritual to work. The idea seemed to be that since Jesus was going to return soon anyways, there was no purpose in work. And so they travelled around from community to community expecting to be fed and supported by the Christian community. The result was that those who had means in the young church were spending so much on these Christian sojourners that they didn’t have enough to help out with the real needs of the people around them.

So Paul speaks to the issue. It is not that the church does not have a responsibility for those who are in need, but as Christians we have a responsibility to make the most of what we have. We need to be willing to work and to spend our time wisely (not be idle and disruptive because we have nothing else to do.) But we also need to learn to take care of our finances; to spend wisely so that we can be the ones who are able to help those in need rather than be the ones who need help. This is the teaching that Paul is stressing in this passage.

The reality is that we often seem to think that as long as we tithe – or less (one lady once told me that being a Christian was great, she put her two dollars a week into the offering plate and got to use the photocopier as much as she wanted – I am not sure that she understood the idea of biblical generosity) and then God is okay with us. But the reality is that we are to make the most of every opportunity, and the most of every resource that we have at our disposal. And in this way, the message of Jesus is spread throughout the world.

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Acts 19