Attitude To Work

190, 1,190, 2 Thessalonians chapter 3, and we're going to read the whole chapter.

2 Thessalonians 3 · chapter mention

2 Thessalonians 3, starting at verse 1, on page 1190.

So, let's hear God's word to us.

Finally, brothers and sisters, pray for us that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly

and be honoured, just as it was with you.

And pray that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men, for not everyone has faith.

But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen and protect you from the evil one.

We have confidence in the Lord that you are doing and will continue to do the things we command.

May the Lord direct your hearts into God's love and Christ's perseverance.

In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command you, brothers and sisters, to keep away from every brother or sister who is idle

and does not live according to the teaching you received from us.

For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example.

We were not idle when we were idle when we were with you, nor did we eat anyone's food without paying for it.

On the contrary, we worked night and day, labouring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you.

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 when we were with you, we gave you this rule, if a man will not work, he shall not eat.

We hear that some among you are idle.

They are not busy.

They are busy bodies.

Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the bread they eat.

And as for you, brothers and sisters, never tire of doing what is right.

If anyone does not obey our instruction in this letter, take special note of them.

Do not associate with them.

In order that they may feel ashamed.

Yet do not regard them as an enemy, but warn them as a brother or sister.

Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way.

The Lord be with all of you.

I, Paul, write this greeting in my own hand,

which is the distinguishing mark in all my letters.

This is how I write.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.

Tom.

Good morning.

It's great to be here in Caragline with you all.

So, just before we start, I'm very conscious that this is God's word.

It's what he says.

And we need his help to understand this.

Who are we just to look at it flippantly and think we can understand all that it says.

So we're going to pray and ask for his help in understanding what it says today.

Father, we thank you for giving us your word, the Bible, that you have shown us who you are through the words of these pages.

And ultimately through your son Jesus.

And now as we look at this very specific passage, written in a very specific point in time,

help us to understand it.

Lord, I need your help as I explain it.

I pray that we would understand what it means and how that applies to us today.

Amen.

It has to be done.

It pays the bills.

I love what I do.

I wish I had a better job.

I'm always so bored.

What's our attitude towards work?

Is it something that we despise having to do?

Are we obsessed with it?

Are we earnestly trying to find it?

Are we physically not able for it?

Have we finished with work?

Are we retired?

Should we even bother working?

Well, Paul has a lot to say about work in this passage.

And we'll be looking how he finishes off the letter to the Thessalonians.

We looked back in July at the first chapter.

And now we're going to look how he finishes this letter.

But as we think about work today, please don't just think employment.

As Google put it nicely, work is an activity involving mental or physical efforts done in order to achieve a result.

Not necessarily you need to be paid for it.

It's not employment.

We're thinking about work in general.

So we need to remember who he's writing to.

So Paul's writing a letter.

It's not just a book that he wrote.

He's actually writing to a group of people, a church like this, in a place called Thessalonica.

So these people have been facing a lot of trouble, as you might remember, both externally and internally.

But at the very start of the letter, he reminds them that they are being kept in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul is writing to encourage them and instruct them as God's people.

So they face fierce persecution from outside themselves, as we heard in chapter 1.

And they face conflict and trouble from within, as there were some who had very bad attitudes towards work and working.

So a quick overview.

Paul in chapter 1 speaks of God's justice and Christ's revelation.

In chapter 2, we see him reassure the church about what must happen before Jesus comes back.

We see a man called the man of lawlessness.

And he encourages the church to stand firm.

And now in chapter 3, Paul gets practical and provides very helpful teaching for the church.

And it's not just for Thessalonica, not for just that place in the ancient world.

But with God's help, we can understand what it means for us in Cargilline, in County Cork, in Ireland today.

Okay, so the first thing that Paul talks about, we're stuck, is one, prayer for work.

So in the first five verses, we see the first thing in this last chapter is Paul's request for them to pray.

But to pray for what?

Prayer that God would work through Paul and his team of workers.

And there are three main things that he mentions in these first few verses.

So in verse 1, what does it say?

As for other matters, brothers and sisters, pray for us that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honoured, just as it was with you.

So Paul's main concern is that the message of the Lord, that is the gospel, would spread and be honoured.

So the image that Paul uses here is literally that the message of the Lord would run.

It's an image that the hearers at the time would be very familiar with.

And it's one he used in a similar letter to the Corinthian church, which when he was talking about an athlete.

But not just that this message would spread and would go far, but that it would be honoured.

Not just in how the people explained it, but that it would be believed and accepted.

Paul is wanting people to hear and believe the message of the Lord.

But what is the message?

It's the message that God has provided a way to be forgiven for rebellion against God.

If you know the story of the Bible, it starts back at the beginning of time, and mankind rebelled against God.

And ever since, man has been living, men and women, humankind, has been living in a way that goes against the way that God wants us to live.

And that causes separation.

But this message is that there's a way to be forgiven for this rebellion.

And to be in the presence of God forever.

And because we don't live in this way that he wants us to live, we're separated.

And without his help, we'd be destined for much worse.

So with him, we can be forgiven.

Without him, look at chapter 1, verses 8 and 9.

We're going to do some flicking.

We're all used to flicking a lot.

Flicking around the TV, flicking through magazines, flicking around the internet.

So it's no exception, we'll flick a lot today as well.

Verses 8 and 9 in chapter 1.

Listen to this.

He will punish those who do not know God,

and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.

They will be punished with everlasting destruction,

and shut out from the presence of the Lord,

and from the glory of his might.

That's a serious, serious message.

But the message of the Lord,

is that the Lord Jesus Christ died on a cross,

taking the punishment for sin, for this rebellion that we deserve,

which is separation from God.

And we know that the good news,

Jesus was raised to life in victory over sin and death,

and simply through faith in him,

that he did that to save me,

we can be forgiven,

and enjoy being in the presence of God for all eternity.

Think about that, that our lives now,

have consequences.

What we see isn't all that there is to life.

What we do with life now,

has consequences in the life to come.

And what does come next?

Eternity.

And the Bible tells us,

this isn't just a spiritual experience.

If we're people who believe in Jesus,

we're not just going to go and live in the clouds,

we're not just going to be ethereal beings,

with no form or matter,

we're going to be very tactile,

earthy people,

living in a new world,

this earth remade,

and perfect.

And that's wonderful,

that we can live there forever.

So we will either be with the Lord,

or we'll be separated.

And it's only through Jesus,

that we can be with him forever.

So Paul, he asks for prayer,

for the spread of this wonderful message.

Prayer for this work.

That's the first thing.

And then verse 2,

prayer for deliverance,

from wicked and evil people.

For not everyone has faith.

So he's asking for prayer,

for the Lord to work in delivering Paul and his team,

because he's working with a group of people,

from those opposed to God and his message.

And he uses the same word here that Jesus uses,

when he says in the Lord's Prayer,

deliver us from evil.

So if Paul firstly is asking,

that the Lord would work in spreading the gospel,

this message,

here he's asking for prayer,

that the Lord would help those,

who are doing the spreading.

So Paul is dependent,

and his team,

on God's help,

in opening doors,

providing opportunities,

bringing people to them,

even though they were being persecuted by people,

opposed to God and his message.

Flick back to Acts.

So this is a letter to the Thessalonians.

Acts is like a history book,

which gives us a story,

and explains what happened in different places.

So in chapter 17,

it talks about Thessalonica.

And we're just going to read from verse 5 to 9.

So Acts chapter 17,

Acts 17:5–9

verse 5 to 9.

So Paul visited this city.

He preached this message of the Lord,

the gospel.

Some people accepted it and believed.

But verse 5.

But other Jews were jealous.

So they rounded up some bad characters from the marketplace,

formed a mob,

and started a riot in the city.

They rushed to Jason's house in search of Paul and Silas,

in order to bring them out to the crowd.

But when they did not find them,

they dragged Jason and some other believers

before the city officials,

shouting,

These men, who have caused trouble all over the world,

have now come here,

and Jason has welcomed them into his house.

They are all defying Caesar's decrees,

saying that there is another king,

one called Jesus.

When they heard this,

the crowd and the city officials were thrown into turmoil.

Then they made Jason and the others postpone and let them go.

So there was this fierce persecution,

and Paul is praying for work,

that God would work in helping those spreading the gospel.

So it's worth mentioning here at this point,

about who these gospel spreaders are,

or who they should be.

Is there an elite, super spiritual team of gospel spreaders in this church,

who we need to pray for?

Or in any church?

No, not at all.

We're going to look at Paul's instructions for work in the verses that follow,

but this work of spreading the gospel,

of telling other people about Jesus,

is not just for a few,

it's for everyone.

I'm paraphrasing our principal in our college in Dublin,

in IBI,

but he has suggested

that the Great Commission,

the last words of Jesus to his disciples,

may have been better named

the Everyday Commission,

for everyday Christians.

It's for everybody.

Jesus' command to go and make disciples of all nations,

is for all of us.

Whether we're people who work in Christian jobs,

secular jobs,

whether we're job seekers,

stay-at-home parents,

volunteers,

students going back to school,

college,

if we're retired,

whatever we're working at,

it's our responsibility

to be gospel spreaders.

And we need the Lord's help with this.

We need to be praying for each other

and encouraging each other to this end.

So, just before Paul goes on to encourage the believers,

or sorry, to pray for the believers,

he takes a moment to encourage them

in verses 3 and 4.

What does he say?

But the Lord is faithful,

and he will strengthen you

and protect you from the evil one.

We have confidence in the Lord

that you are doing

and will continue to do the things we command.

So, verse 4 then goes on to show

how Paul has confidence

in those he's writing to,

that they are

and will continue to do

what Paul and his team commanded.

He's encouraging these believers.

And then the final prayer for work

is that the Lord would direct the believers' hearts.

Look at verse 5.

May the Lord direct your hearts

into God's love

and Christ's perseverance.

So, God's love

and Christ's perseverance.

We now, today,

just as they did then,

need the Lord to be directing our hearts

to his love

and looking to our Saviour Jesus

for our example of perseverance.

Our personal relationship with the Lord

is of utmost importance

when serving him

and doing his work

and spreading his gospel.

We need to be people

who always rely on God's love

and care in all we do,

big or small,

and we need to be looking to Jesus

and following him

in all our actions and thoughts.

Our personal relationship

with the Lord Jesus

is the foundation

for everything else we do.

Without that,

we're lost.

As some of you might know,

I work for Amazon

and they have an amazing policy

for some of their workers

in the United States.

They have massive warehouses.

I don't know if you've seen

some of the newspaper articles.

They have massive warehouses.

You click on Amazon

and say,

I want to buy this book.

It goes to a system

and this big warehouse

finds it,

puts it in a box

and sends it to you.

And there are naturally

people in this warehouse

who need to work

and fulfill the orders.

And Amazon has this amazing policy

that they say,

if you want to leave Amazon,

we'll give you $5,000

and you can be on your way.

Thank you very much.

You can get up and leave

and you can have $5,000

find a new job.

So Amazon is trying

to create this culture

of keeping people

who love working for Amazon.

They're not going to take

the $5,000

if they want to keep

their jobs with them.

And it's the same

with the Lord.

If we're going to be workers

for him,

we need to love Jesus.

If we're to be effective,

we need to be people

who love the Lord

and as a result,

we will love working for him.

We need to first and foremost

love the Lord

with all our heart,

soul, strength and mind

and then loving others

and serving them

will follow.

So we need to be looking

to God's love

and Christ's perseverance,

his example

as we go about our lives.

So that's one,

prayer for work.

The second thing,

instructions for work.

We move on to some

very practical

down-to-earth instructions

that Paul is giving

to the Thessalonian church.

But first,

why on earth

would they listen to Paul?

What authority

does he have?

Who's this Paul anyway?

Why does he write

so many letters?

So listen to the start

of verse 6.

I'm sorry,

back in chapter 1.

So in verse 2,

in chapter 1,

grace and peace to you

from God the Father

and the Lord Jesus Christ.

He's writing

on behalf of someone.

Look at verse 6,

back in chapter 3.

In the name

of the Lord Jesus Christ,

we command you.

Paul was an apostle

of Jesus Christ.

That is,

one who was sent

by Jesus

and God the Father

with unique authority

and power.

Now,

we don't have people

like this today.

I can't write you all

a letter

and say,

from God the Father

and the Lord Jesus Christ

with such power

and authority

that Paul did.

but we have

Paul's words.

We have the same

words he wrote

and he tells us

where this authority

comes from.

It's not his own.

It's from Jesus.

The Lord Jesus Christ.

So before we look

at these practical

instructions,

we need to understand

the context

and we need to understand

what Paul and his team

had previously commanded.

So in case anyone

in the church

had forgotten

and very helpfully

for us,

Paul reminds us

of the teaching

that he gave.

Look in verse 10.

Skip on a little bit.

Chapter 3, verse 10.

For even when we were

with you,

we gave you this rule.

The one who is

unwilling to work

shall not eat.

The one who is

unwilling to work

shall not eat.

Seems a bit drastic, Paul.

Unwilling workers

don't get to eat.

Well, this is very similar

to some of the sayings

in Proverbs.

So we're going to do

some more flicking.

Turn in your Bibles

back to Proverbs.

So we're halfway through

your book,

Proverbs.

It's after Psalms.

And the first one

we're going to

is Proverbs chapter 10.

Proverbs 10 · chapter mention

They're all very short.

Now Proverbs is amazing

because there are

these nuggets of wisdom.

Now, it's worth mentioning

they're not promises.

They're principles.

Okay?

So I think that's worth

remembering.

Look at Proverbs chapter 10,

Proverbs 10:4

verse 4.

Lazy hands

make for poverty,

but diligent hands

bring wealth.

Move forward to chapter 12,

verse 11.

Those who work their land

will have abundant food,

but those who chase fantasies

have no sense.

And the last one,

chapter 14,

verse 23.

All hard work

brings a profit,

but mere talk

leads only

to poverty.

So in a similar way,

Paul had given them

this instruction

that those who are

unwilling to work

shall not eat.

these Proverbs

would have been known

by God's people

at the time.

And I think

what Paul is saying here,

these people

didn't have

social welfare.

They didn't have

a government

who would give them

benefits

if they didn't

have a job.

So without work,

it was very practical,

they wouldn't eat.

They wouldn't have money,

they couldn't buy food,

they couldn't grow food,

unless someone

shared with them.

So Paul is saying

those who don't work

don't eat,

it's those who are

unwilling to work

who don't eat.

So,

it was a common practice

in the early church

for believers

who were more wealthy

to look after

those in need

and could not make

a living for themselves

a sort of social welfare

within the church.

So it should not

be the case

that those who

were able to work

but not willing

to do so

should benefit

from the hard work

and fruit

of others' labour.

But this is

the exact problem.

There were people

in Thessalonica

who were doing

exactly this.

So Paul's teaching

in this matter

is that God's people

need to be

a working people.

So,

we mentioned

the very beginning

of the story

at the start.

We're going to go

back to Genesis,

right to the very beginning.

Genesis chapter 2.

Genesis 2 · chapter mention

This is the easiest

book to find.

It's the first one.

Genesis chapter 2.

Genesis 2 · chapter mention

Okay,

so the story

of this world,

the history

of this world

is that God

created

all things.

And listen

what he did

in the beginning.

It's chapter 2

and verse 8

to 9.

Now the Lord God

had planted

a garden

in the east,

in Eden,

and there

he put the man

he had formed.

The Lord God

made all kinds

of trees

go out of the ground,

trees that were

pleasing to the eye

and good for food.

In the middle

of the garden

were the tree

of life

and the tree

of the knowledge

of good and evil.

And look at verse 15.

The Lord God

took the man

and put him

in the garden

of Eden

to work it

and take care

of it.

So if you know

the story,

this is before

man rebelled.

This is before

sin came into

the world.

So God

created us

to work.

But let's continue.

Chapter 3

in Genesis.

Man rebelled.

Man went against

what God had said.

Look in verse 17.

Look what he says

to Adam.

Chapter 3, 17.

To Adam he said,

Because you listened

to your wife

and ate fruit

from the tree

about which I

commanded you,

you must not

eat from it.

Cursed is the ground

because of you.

Through painful toil

you will eat food

from it

all the days

of your life.

It will produce

thorns and thistles

for you

and you will eat

the plants

of the field.

By the sweat

of your brow

you will eat

your food

until you return

to the ground

since from it

you are taken.

For dust you are

and to dust

you will return.

So God created us

to work

but the result

of sin

is that this work

became difficult

and painful.

The work itself

is good and right

and it's what

we're to do

being workers

but it's because

of sin

that this work

is hard.

So we're not

to be people

who sponge off

others

wasting our time

doing nothing

wasting our lives

on Facebook

Twitter

watching TV

endlessly

playing video games

reading useless

magazines

wasting our time

we're to be people

who are workers

first and foremost

because that's

what we're created

to be.

We're going to be

workers in this

new earth

that God gives us

if we have faith

in him

and that's what

we need to be now.

he's going to

remove the pain

and the hardness

of the work

which I can't

wait for

but we need

to be workers

now

and again

not that we

need to be

employees

but we're

to be workers

if you're a

student

then you need

to be a good

worker in that

if you don't

have a job

maybe you're

looking for one

or you're

retired

or maybe

for some reason

you're on

sick leave

you're unable

to work

what could

you do

there are

many things

that we can

do

in terms of

voluntary work

we can be

involved in

things without

having to

necessarily be

employed

what about

stay at home

parents

it is good

and right

to be working

and it is

hard work

in that role

and I just

want to say

at this point

it's really

important to

remember this

we talked

about having

faith in

Jesus

but we're

not to

work for

the Lord

to earn

or even

maintain

his favour

and salvation

that is

impossible

and can't

be done

our lives

in this world

is not about

how good we

are or how

much we

work

it's about

faith in

Jesus

we work

for the

Lord

as he's

calling us

to live

like this

because

he has

already

shown us

his favour

and given

us his

salvation

we need

to get

the order

right

or we're

going to

have a

very unhappy

life

and a

very

hard

life

ok so

on to

Paul's

instructions

he's

very

practical

the first

instruction

to the

church

from

Paul

is that

they're

to keep

away

from the

idle

believer

Paul

commands

the

believers

in

Thessalonica

to stay

away

from the

believer

who's

idle

and

disruptive

who doesn't

live

according to

the teaching

they received

the teaching

that they need

to be people

who work

he says

in verse

six

so he says

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 receive

from us

but what's

this

idleness

about

the word

does not

necessarily

mean

physically

doing

nothing

sitting

down

resting

because that's

a good

thing to

do

it's more

of an

active word

that he's

talking about

the following

word

is helpful

in understanding

the idleness

and that is

disruptive

they were

idle

disruptors

Paul very

helpfully

explains it

in verse

11

look at

verse 11

we hear

that some

among you

are idle

and disruptive

they're not

busy

they're busy

bodies

they were

being busy

bodies

they were

interfering

with other

people's

business

other people's

work

they were

sponging

off the

generosity

of others

and these

idle

disruptors

were living

in a way

that was

causing

hassle

in the

church

and it

was not

according

to the

way

Paul

had

previously

instructed

them

they were

claiming

to be

in need

so were

benefiting

from this

social

welfare

in the

church

but that

was what

was available

for truly

needy

people

do we

find ourselves

to be

idle

people

are we

busy

bodies

do we

skip out

on work

or responsibilities

that we

have

employment

or otherwise

in the

home

with family

just knowing

that someone

else will

look after

it

or if we

don't do

it

someone else

will finish

the job

if we

do no

work

someone else

will provide

for me

are we

quick to

interfere

in other

people's

business

are we

busy

bodies

it's

tempting

isn't

it

it's

usually

the

easier

option

sin

makes

work

hard

so the

other

option

for now

seems

easier

but that's

not how

the Lord

wants us

to live

in Ireland

I don't

know about

some guys

in the

UK

we have

this

culture

of social

welfare

we have

a social

welfare

culture

where people

say

I'm not

going to

bother

working

because the

government

is going

to pay

my wage

we have

this attitude

that it's

okay to

be lazy

we have

a calling

in sick

culture

I don't

feel like

working

today

I work

for Amazon

I work

from home

and the

way I

call in

sick

I don't

go and

see any

managers

all I have

to do

is I

call this

number

it's an

automated

voice

and I

have to

say my

name

and why

I'm not

coming into

work

say it's

Tom

I'm

sick

I'll be

in tomorrow

that's it

it's so

easy

it's tempting

isn't it

you're

very tired

but no

that's not

what the

Lord has

asked us

to do

and let's

look at

Paul's

example

he gives

us an

example

in his

instructions

for work

Paul reminds

them

about having

to follow

their

example

what does

it say

verse 7

the later

part of

verse 7

and 8

to 9

we were

not idle

when we

were with

you

nor did

we eat

anyone's

food

without

paying

for it

on the

contrary

we worked

night and

day

laboring

and toiling

so that we

would not be a

burden to

any of you

we did this

not because we do

not have the right

to such help

but in order to

offer ourselves

as a model

or example

for you to

imitate

they set an

example of

working hard

to earn their

living

so as not to be

a burden to

anyone

they were

with the

thessalonians

with the

intention of

spreading this

gospel

this message

which we

remember is

all of our

responsibility

but yet they

worked hard

so as to

provide for

themselves

during this

time

they wouldn't

be a

burden

and if you

remember in

Acts

Acts was

written by a

guy called

Luke

and Luke

tells us

that Paul

was a

tent maker

he made

tents

and this

may very

well have

been what

Paul was

doing with

the

thessalonians

by day

he made

tents

by evening

and night

he spread

this message

because he

would be an

example of a

hard worker

and so he

wouldn't be a

burden

in verse 9

Paul mentions

here and he

further elaborates

to another

church in

Corinth

that the

apostles actually

had a right

to be

supported

in verse 9

we did this

not because we

do not have

the right to

such help

but in order

to offer

ourselves as

a model

for you to

imitate

he gives up

this right

in earning

his own

living

to be an

example

so this is a

helpful example

for us

isn't it

seeing how

this work

of gospel

spreading

of spreading

this message

can be done

regardless of

whether you

have a secular

job

or a job

specific to

Christians

things

or you

don't have

a job

that you're

paid for

in your

involuntary

work

you're at

home

you're a

student

we don't

need to be

a Christian

worker

or a

foreign

missionary

to be

gospel spreaders

or even

a youth

worker

even Paul

did it

he made

tents

in fact

we need

people who

are tent

makers

people who

have jobs

as well

so they

can provide

for their

family

and also

for others

who are

in need

so don't

think what

you do

what you

work at

your job

is not

doing God's

work

it is

or think

that I'll

be doing

God's

work as

soon as

I work

for a

church

or in

a mission

or a

Christian

organization

we are

doing God's

work

because he

called us

to be his

workers in

the places

that we

are

spreading

the gospel

as we

go

the everyday

commission

for everyday

Christians

so and we

remember what

we said

earlier

we're all

to be

gospel

spreaders

everywhere

we work

regardless

of whether

it's a

job or

employment

we're called

to spread

the Lord's

message

so Paul's

final instruction

for work

in verses

11 to 12

is aimed

at the

idlers

so this

before it's

been to the

church

now it's

aimed at

the idlers

these loafers

these busy

bodies

in the

church

what does

it say

we hear

that some

among you

are idle

and disruptive

they're not

busy

they're busy

bodies

such people

we command

and urge

in the

Lord Jesus

Christ

to settle

down

and earn

the food

they eat

Paul's

very clear

and straight

to the

point

settle

down

earn

the food

you eat

or some

translations

say earn

the bread

you eat

if you're

someone who's

a sponger

a loafer

an idle

disruptor

a busy

body

then you

need to get

your act

together

because you're

not living

in the way

that you

were created

to live

and if you're

not someone

who follows

Jesus

this still

applies

you were

created

to work

but that

work isn't

what will

save you

it's only

through faith

not to earn

his favour

but if you're

one of God's

people

in response

to what

he's done

so Paul

talks about

prayer for

work

his instructions

for work

and thirdly

this motivation

for work

why do all

of this

in these last

few verses

of the letter

we can see

the reasons

to be

motivated

to be

workers

firstly

Paul

puts in

an encouragement

in verse

13

and as for

you brothers

and sisters

never tire

of doing

what is

good

we need

to be

encouraged

like this

sometimes

don't we

have you

ever continued

to do

what is

good

what is

right

and it

becomes

difficult

and frustrating

is there

someone awkward

at work

is there

a family

member

you don't

get on

with

is one

of your

kids

driving you

mad

this week

is there

someone

that you

always tell

the gospel

to share

your faith

with

but they

don't

care

but Paul

encourages

you

don't

tire

of doing

what is

good

keep

going

we need

to keep

going

in it

and Paul

elaborates

slightly

more

in another

letter

to the

Galatians

in chapter

6

quickly

flick to

Galatians

it's a

couple of

books back

chapter 6

in verse

9

so to

the

Thessalonians

he says

never

tire

of doing

what is

good

to the

Galatians

another

church

another

group of

people

chapter 6

verse 9

he says

let us

not become

weary

in doing

good

for at

the proper

time

we will

reap a

harvest

if we

do not

give up

at the

right time

we will

reap

a reward

as we

continue

to do

what is

good

the Lord

is in

control

and he

knows

that as

we work

for him

he will

bless

maybe not

in the way

that we

would think

or imagine

but we

will reap

a reward

have you

ever been

motivated

as we

move on

to the

end of

the chapter

by something

because of

the negative

consequences

of not

doing it

or paying

your bills

you want

electricity

in your

house

don't you

so you

pay your

bills

or else

you live

in

darkness

now we

know

that as

Christians

we should

pay our

bills

because we

use what

we need

in our

house

we don't

have gas

we have

electricity

but our

central heating

is done

with oil

we don't

have oil

on tap

and we

have to

buy oil

and put it

in a big

tank

behind our

house

and oil

is really

expensive

but if we

don't buy

oil

what happens

we freeze

we're coming

up

it's the end

of September

we're kind

of pushing

it now

we need

to start

buying oil

turn on

the central

heating

or else

we'll freeze

so the

negative

consequence

is we'll

be freezing

without the

oil

and naturally

part of our

motivation to

do something

will happen

because we

don't do it

what about you

guys at

home

if you

don't clean

your room

no pocket

money this

month

don't do

the dishes

no TV

tonight

naturally

we're motivated

and Paul

has a warning

for those

who don't

obey

let's look

at these

next two

verses

in verse

14 and

15

take special

note of

anyone who

does not

obey our

instructions in

this letter

do not

associate with

them

in order

that they

may feel

ashamed

yet do

not regard

them as

an enemy

but warn

them as

a fellow

believer

Paul has

this warning

for those

who are

ignoring

what he

says

he speaks

about

discipline

within the

church

a huge

topic

we can't

cover today

but there

are a couple

of things

we can

learn

briefly

so the

Thessalonian

church

are not

to associate

with those

who don't

obey his

instructions

in this

letter

so this

is not

just for

all those

everywhere

who don't

obey

inside the

church and

out

because then

there will

be an awful

lot of

people not

to associate

with

but Paul

is saying

not to

associate

those within

the church

who don't

listen to

him

but why

so they

might feel

ashamed

so they

would see

that what

they're

doing

their

disobedience

has

consequences

and that

they would

feel ashamed

of how

they're

living

and not

just for

the laugh

so they'd

feel bad

but so that

they would

be brought

back

into that

fellowship

of believers

the purpose

of discipline

is not

to punish

for wrong

doing

but to

bring about

restoration

verse 15

do not

regard them

as an

enemy

but warn

them

as a

fellow

believer

and we

can learn

from this

attitude

of discipline

and as

grace and

I one

day

god willing

go on

to have

children

I hope

that our

attitude

to our

kids

in terms

of discipline

is not

simply to

punish them

for doing