Daily Worship

Work

October 25, 2016 0 0

2Thess 3: 6 – 13

The Obligation to Work

6 Our friends, we command you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to keep away from all believers who are living a lazy life and who do not follow the instructions that we gave them. 7 You yourselves know very well that you should do just what we did. We were not lazy when we were with you. 8 We did not accept anyone's support without paying for it. Instead, we worked and toiled; we kept working day and night so as not to be an expense to any of you. 9 We did this, not because we do not have the right to demand our support; we did it to be an example for you to follow. 10 While we were with you, we used to tell you, “Whoever refuses to work is not allowed to eat.”

11 We say this because we hear that there are some people among you who live lazy lives and who do nothing except meddle in other people's business. 12 In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ we command these people and warn them to lead orderly lives and work to earn their own living.

13 But you, friends, must not become tired of doing good.

Paul’s strong words about ‘those who will not work’ are sometimes taken out of context for political ends. Sanctions against benefit recipients come dangerously close to a perverted fulfilment of this saying. But the actual situation seems to have been that some believers were opting out of their social duties because they believed the ‘end was near’. Such disengagement from wider society is not the Christian way.

 

Merciful God, we ask your forgiveness for our personal failures in our daily work;

we have been poor stewards of the gifts and abilities you have given us; 

we have not seen our work as your calling to us, to be done for your glory;

in how we think, speak and act we have not loved our neighbour as ourselves. 

Teach me the value of work done in the service of others;

teach me the value of work done with humility;

teach me the value of work done in self-giving love.

Our attitudes to others may seem a small thing,

but a right view of my neighbour is a deeply Christian practice.