2 Thessalonians 3:6-18 RESPONSIBLE CONDUCT When someone interprets the scripture in the way they want to suit their own ends and make their own rules, they need to be firmly helped by mature and responsible believers who have been tried and proven in life. Those who deliberately do not work need to be reminded of who they are as Christians. "We are not our own; we have been bought with a price." Paul and those who labored with him in the Gospel and the work of the Lord in Thessalonica were not a burden on the people to whom they ministered. They met their own needs and could assist others who had genuine needs. The lack of meaningful labor leads to idleness, and idleness leads to being a busybody in other people's business. That, in turn, leads to sin and gossip, which leads to one's testimony as a child of God being rejected by those who are not saved. The Thessalonians had been taught in word and deed by those who brought them the Gospel, but now for some reason, were listening to others who were deceiving them about the coming of the Lord. Genuine preachers and teachers sent by God will not be asking for money to support them and their work. By the conduct of their own lives, they support their own needs in their ministry.
Some people get excited by the thoughts of the coming of the Lord, but that does not excuse us from our present-day responsibilities. To associate ourselves in fellowship with laziness is much different from the normal desire for having leisure time and relaxation. Some people, saved or unsaved, create contention and discouragement, and that can lead to disobedience and disorderly conduct in ourselves if we continue to associate with them. This action is not excommunication from the fellowship of the assembly, but by withdrawing from them, their behavior is hopefully going to change. We demonstrate by stepping back that we do not agree with what they are doing, or in this case, not doing. This "disorderly" walk was not taught in any way by trustworthy teachers. The objective is that person will be willing to walk again according to scripturally accepted "traditions."
The disorderly walk is descriptive of one who is out of step with scriptural traditions practiced by those who live their lives in the way God intends. They have chosen to disobey those teachings and act without discretion. The disorderly could have learned to do what was right just by watching Paul and those who were with him, but instead, they behaved in a way that dishonored the Lord and negated the message the preachers of the Gospel sought to convey. By observing the manner of life of those who follow Christ, we can learn how to live in moderation and honorable conduct. Honesty, gentleness, humility, and genuine care are learned by imitating those who follow Christ. Hard work, self-sacrifice, and holy living please God, and we do well to follow the example of such people who give us a pattern of Christian living.
The ones we are to follow don't ask for money but take responsibility for themselves and the work they do, as well as helping others. The toil needed in honest labor to which Christians should be committed is a rebuke to those who avoid it and a positive testimony to common-sense living. It actually is a positive statement of righteous living to those who look on. Paul accepted the burden of his own ministry and paid the cost of it personally rather than being burdensome to others. He understood and taught the behavior principles of those in the kingdom of God.
Those who have taught us and whom we follow do not demand obedience from others over whom they have the right of authority but, by example, set the standard for our behavior. It is quite appropriate for one who labors in the Gospel to support himself when it is necessary. Every matter we face in the Lord's work needs to be judged in the presence of the Lord. By faith, we follow His guidance that we can observe through the people of God who go before us. We walk by faith and recognize those "whose faith follow." It is an ongoing principle of the life of faith that we work for what we get, not wait for it to be handed to us on a platter. We, as God's people, must act responsibly before the Lord and also before the people we know.
This is no new teaching, but a fundamental principle of life for human beings, right from the beginning of human history in the Garden of Eden. God knows about all the great things happening in the world, as well as the small things in my life that affect my daily living and may seem very insignificant. People not minding their own business will often be busybodies in other people's business. That is not hidden because it affects other people and causes sin to fill the vacuum they create with gossiping words and meaningless activity.
Under the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ, Paul gives the command to those who were idle to get to work and provide for themselves and their own families - and others - with honest labor. Those who gossip and follow rumors and hearsay tear people down. Everyone who puts their nose to the grindstone in the business of others needs to get to work and look for tasks they can do for the Lord. The quiet and orderly life God intends for us to have follows the pattern of life taught in the scriptures. The call to the assembly is not to quit doing what is right, but to press on and add to that as the Lord leads us. Doors open to us when we are available. There are things we know are right that we haven't done yet. We are responsible for continuing to do what we have been doing and going further to do what we have neglected.
Any professing Christian who does not agree with the Bible and God's revealed word is to stay away from it. Continued disobedience, when the word of God has been made clear, is more severe than when we were first instructed in the ways of the Lord. This deliberate act of disobedience and disorder means we must back away from that person. Being alone is a very effective way of changing wrong behavior. There are times when our fellow believers need tough love to help a person become responsible. A disorderly person is not an enemy, so we need to look for ways to help him or her change their behavior. Brothers and sisters may need our input to be the kind of Christian God intends.
Our peace comes from our Lord Himself, not from the events in the world around us. Those events do not have the power to dictate our faith. Paul had learned how to find peace in times of great difficulty and opposition. He knew personally that the Lord can give His peace to all His people, orderly and disorderly. Recovery to the Lord is to be expected on the part of the disorderly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ is where the epistle begins and ends. That applies to all the saints. The proper appreciation of grace will bring about the needed recovery of the disorderly and produce Christ-likeness in all believers. Truth in regard to the Lord's coming has been made clear, and it will bring about the righteous justice and judgment that brings peace. But for the present need, the Lord's people need the practical experience of love and grace to be effective in our present-day testimony and service to God.
In regard to the coming of the Lord, of this we must be clear There will be no lasting peace until the Lord to earth appears The people of God will be taken first to meet Him in the air Only those saved by grace alone will rise to meet Him there.
Things happening on earth will rapidly get worse, for there is no restraint Unchecked evil will give man his day without God's people to constrain Sinners to repent and be saved, God's people will be gone Earth's many nations will feel the weight of all of God's "wrath to come."
Many will be saved who never heard the Gospel of God's grace In the great tribulation, they'll suffer and die as the cost of faith Then, when hope for peace is gone, the Lord to all appears Instead of evil intent among themselves, He will be the sum of all their fears.
Justice will be meted out, and righteous judgment will take place Rich and poor, paupers and kings will see the Sovereign's face Then all will know God has a plan far, far greater than man's scheme Our Lord in righteousness then will reign. All kings will bow to Him.
With Him in His kingdom are the millions who believed in Him He, in turn, will bring peace on earth and, in benevolence reign God, in His sovereign intention, will see the earth give God the glory As another chapter of divine purpose unfolds of God's eternal story.
"Father, the word of God is very settling to troubled saints when they realize that wickedness will increase rapidly as the coming of the Lord draws near. May we all lift our eyes higher than the evil that we see, to the glory that will appear in the future that we can see by faith now. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen."