Thank you for taking the time to read the Weekend Sermon this week. I am glad to be able to post the sermon. I hope that everyone is doing well.
This has been an up and down week for writing. I had one of my best days monetarily, and I had a poor day. All in all, things are going pretty well. I am thankful to the Lord of the opportunity to be a writer and to post sermons and other items here on the blog.
Please be in prayer regarding the situation in Syria. Let us all pray for peace. Let us pray for the leaders of the world that they will make proper decisions.
Let us pray for peace in every nation where there is war and unrest. Congo, Libya, Yemen, Israel, Afghanistan, Ukraine and South Sudan all need our prayers.
I do have something that I want to thank the Lord for. We've been praying that aid would reach the people in Puerto Rico. I heard a report this week that the people there will be getting help from the federal government with housing. I am thankful for this
Let's keep praying for the people in Papua New Guinea. Many are still in need following the earthquake in that country.
I would like to ask for prayer in three matters. They are calling for very bad storms in my part of the world today. Please pray that they won't be bad. Please pray that I can find a part-time job or just a little more writing work. Please pray that I can sell my house if it is the Lord's will. Thank you.
For our prayer focus countries this week, let us pray for Iraq and Liberia. Pray that many will hear of the love of Jesus in these two countries.
For the past few weeks, we have been studying some passages in the Bible that are often taken out of context or misinterpreted. Today, we are going to study a verse that is not necessarily interpreted incorrectly, it is just used as a justification for a certain mindset. It is over applied.
The verse in question this week is II Thessalonians 3:10 which states, "For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule, the one who is unwilling to work shall not eat."
The way that this verse is used by some ministers and politicians in my country makes me very upset. This verse is used as a justification for cutting food assistance programs and social welfare programs. The verse is used to hurt a lot of people. However, I don't think a lot of thought is put into what this entire passage of the Bible is really getting at. Let's try to look at the whole picture.
There are at least four ways to interpret this passage. I want to look at each of them.
First of all. Some interpret verse 10 and the surrounding verses in the context of I and II Thessalonians. In these letters, Paul addresses the fact that Jesus is coming again. Paul believed, and rightly so, that Jesus could return at any moment and establish his rule and reign on earth.
With this in mind, some were not working, and they were just waiting for Jesus to come. They were relying on the others wealth to get them along until Jesus returned. Paul is telling these people not to do this. They should be engaged in the world because no person knows the day or the hour of Christ's appearing.
The second way that the passage can be interpreted is as a directive to the leadership of the church. Paul says that he and those he was with did not ask the Thessalonians to support them. They worked and earned their own living so as not to be a burden on the people. Paul said that whoever was ministering in the church should work or not eat.
There is a third that this passage has been interpreted. Some group within the church was causing dissension. We don't know what that was. Paul calls them busybodies. Instead of causing dissension, Paul says that they should get to work, not really on others and quit causing problems.
The final way to interpret this verse is that it is a directive for everyone in that church and other churches. It is a general principle that if a person has the ability to work, that person should work and supply their own needs and the needs of their family. If they are unwilling to do that, Paul says that there is not an obligation to support such a person.
So, we have seen four ways to interpret this passage. What is the proper interpretation? I think that there is much truth in the first interpretation and the second and the fourth. I'm not so sure about the third interpretation.
Other people through time have responded as some in Thessaloniki. In the United States, there was a group in the 1800s who believed that Jesus was about to return. They all quit their jobs and sold everything. They waited on the appointed day for Jesus to return. He did not, and these people were left destitute.
It seems as if Paul always worked and supported himself when he was in the ministry. He also said that there was nothing wrong with a minister receiving support from the congregation in most instances. Paul just didn't want to be a burden on others, and he didn't want others to think that he was preaching just so that he could get money.
It is clear in the Bible that we are supposed to work for our living if we are capable. Even Adam in the Garden of Eden was given tasks to do. The Bible says that six days are for labor, and one day is for rest.
Now, here is where the problem comes with some who quote this verse about the one who doesn't work shouldn't eat. As I said, this is often used to support cutting back programs that help those that are in need. I've seen it used to not help the homeless. This is a misuse of this verse.
First of all, it is a misconception that the majority of people who receive aid don't want to work. I'm sure that this is true of some. Many people that receive food assistance are working. They just don't make enough to supply what their need.
Also, many people are willing to work, but they can't find jobs that they are able to do. By this I mean that there may be a lot of jobs, but not everyone is capable of doing every job. Some people can work in an office, but they don't have the stamina to work outside and do manual type labor. They might try, but they wouldn't last. People who are trying to find work shouldn't be cut off from help as long as they are trying.
I've seen this verse used to criticize people as lazy because they were able-bodied and not working. What does that mean? I remember a writer I know speaking about this. This writer had PTSD from his time in the military. He looked and appeared able bodied, but he had a problem that disabled him that others couldn't see.
It makes me upset that some Christians use this verse to beat people over the head who are poor and make them feel like dirt. That is not right. Some people need help, and they shouldn't be made to feel ashamed.
Another area I'd like to address. Poor does not equal lazy. I heard this all the time in the church I grew up in. I've known people who've worked hard their whole lives and they are still poor. That doesn't have anything to do with them. It has to do with unjust wages and the exploitation of the corporate elite.
While I'm addressing this whole topic, I'd like to mention another phrase I hear Christian people use all the time. They will say, "Give a man a fish and he'll eat for a day. Teach a man to fish and he'll eat for a lifetime." This is just another excuse not to help people. You may teach the man to fish so that he can support himself, but you better give him a few fish while he is trying to learn or he'll starve to death.
Now, I am sure that there are people who are unwilling to work and are trying to get handouts from the government and churches. However, many of these people have children. Are you going to not give help and food and care to the parents of children?
I don't think Paul had any idea that this verse would be used by people to actually deny aid to poor people. The reason I believe this is that Paul served Jesus Christ. Paul was well aware that Jesus said that He would judge the world by how they respond to the least among them.
As Christians, our best course is to follow the compassionate example of Jesus. Give and help others. Some might take advantage. Most won't.
Case in point. There is a food pantry run by a church close to where I live. They don't ask anyone how much they make or if they have a job. Their philosophy is that if someone comes for help, they help. If they are trying to game the system, God will work it out. That church hasn't had any problems, and they help a lot of truly needy people get back on their feet.
To some things up. Don't use this verse as a club to beat poor people. Most people are willing to work if they can and if they are given a chance and support. Help people. Feed the hungry. Cloth the naked. Help the homeless. You may get burned once in a while. Jesus is the judge. He knows your heart and theirs. Our responsibility is to faithfully serve Jesus. We need to be grateful for what we have, and not worry so much that someone else may get something they don't deserve.
I know that I've rambled on, but this is an issue that really upsets me. Please excuse this rambling sermon. I hope that it is enlightening.
Next week, we will look at another misapplied passage. On Monday, I will post the verses. I plan to have a review on Wednesday. May God bless you all.
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