DO IT!

Diligence. That word came to mind when I saw this iron sculpture of spear-fishing in a park near the Columbia River in Washington. In days of long-ago, those who didn’t fish, didn’t eat. Fish was an important part of their diets! Actually, the apostle Paul said that, too: “If a man will not work, he shall not eat” (2 Thess. 3:10). There’s both truth and common misinterpretation in that quote.

First, the “way off” stuff. Paul was writing a church that could hardly wait for Jesus to come back and start the new world order.  Some were so sure He was coming soon that they had quit their jobs or suspended their businesses to just “wait.”  They’d become “busybodies” with not enough Christ-worthy things to occupy their time and energy. They’d become a burden to the church, which felt it needed to support them—at least to feed them. 
Their inactivity was depleting the church resources, to no good. So Paul wrote, “Keep away from every brother who is idle and does not live according to the teaching you received from us” (2 Thess. 3:6). In other words, quit mooching.

He held himself, Silas and Timothy as examples. Even though they were traveling evangelists, when they landed somewhere for a while, they paid for their own food. They found what work they could—Paul likely in tent manufacturing.  They didn’t want to burden the church community with their support. More important, Paul said, “We did this, not because we do not have the right to such help, but in order to make ourselves a model for you to follow. For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: ‘If a man will not work, he shall not eat’” (vv. 9-10).

My husband helps deliver donated potatoes to ministries that help the needy. They come from a generous grower about 40 miles away who donates multiple 50-pound sacks of spuds. When my husband pulls his loaded truck up to a ministry office, he’s very thankful when they send out people to help unload. It’s a big job for somebody who’s in his mid-seventies. In some cases, the unloading crew is people who are being helped by that ministry, like a shelter for homeless men. They may not be able to hold a for-wage job yet, but they are working as helpers for the shelter. The shelter’s ultimate goal is to move them out as responsible community members who can support themselves. Work has dignity and purpose.

I find the last chapter of 2 Thessalonians instructional, yet disturbing.  It’s very sad that Paul had to deal with lazy Christians. But it’s a reminder that every day should count for God.  Or, as Jesus expressed it in the Parable of the Ten Minas, don’t slough off in using the abilities God has given you.  “Occupy till I come” (Luke 19:13 KJV).

IS SOMETHING WRONG HERE?

A local church was having a rummage sale to help fund a mission trip, and as someone with foot problems I was happy to find some cushy shoe supports.  At the store, they are so expensive. But when I got home, I realize I’d just bought three for the right foot. None for the left.  So yes, in this case, three rights made a wrong!

The word “right” rang up a memory for something I’d recently read in the Bible.  I’d been thinking through Paul’s admonishment to one church regarding freeloading members. Their reasoning: Christ was coming again soon, so why sweat the hard stuff, like work?  Paul came down hard on their laziness, reminding them that even when he was there as a guest preacher, he looked for a “help wanted” sign at a tent-making business to support himself. He’d left them this rule: “If a man will not work, he shall not eat” (2 Thessalonians 3:10). In other words, they needed to do their share of labor.  Then he commended those who were working and helping those in true need:  “And as for you, brothers, never tire of doing right” (v. 13).

Do what is right. That command surfaces in other scriptures: 
“But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. ‘Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened.’” (1 Peter 3:14)
“So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.” (James 4:17) “But be doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” (James 1:22)
“Jesus answered, ‘If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word. My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.’” (John 14:23)
“If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right. (James 2:8)

C.S. Lewis wrote, “Integrity is doing the right thing, even when no one is watching.” Even though it may bring scorn and abuse, “doing right” is the right thing to do. I tried to imagine what happened when Paul’s letter was read in Thessalonica, and his hard words about work-shy Christians (he remarked: “They are not busy, they are busybodies”) caused some consternation. In those days, work was work, and how the necessities of life were to be supplied.  Believers who presumed the Second Coming was imminent needed to get their eyes off the skies and back onto being responsible members of their community.

We’re still in waiting mode for Christ to come again, but the principle still holds:  doing right. When He does come again, my role model is from Jesus’ parable (Matthew 25, Luke 19) about the diligent workers who did their best (even without shoe inserts to make work more comfortable!) while the master was away.  Those who worked and invested got the beautiful commendation:  “Well done, good and faithful servant.” The one who buried his investment got nothing.  

“Never tire of doing right.” I need that reminder on days I’m around people who mock what I believe God has called me to be and do: “Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary” (Galatians 6:9).