Note: This week we have had several messages on the subject of work following Labor Day. This will be the final one. Some may not regard work as being a "spiritual subject matter", but the Bible says a lot about it, including warnings to those who refuse to work.

Message summary: Paul issued a vital rule to the Thessalonian believers (and through Scripture to all of us): "If a man will not work, he shall not eat".

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“For even 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 busybodies. Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the bread they eat” (2 Thessalonians 3:10-12). "But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever" (1 Timothy 5:8).

One of the hard things in ministry is dealing with people who have made a real mess of their lives due to disobedience to God and yet they persist since they are trapped in their violation of God's laws. This very week I encountered an example in our chaplain ministry but due to possible confidentiality issues will not share it here. But it's similar to a memory of our ministry years ago in New England.

A lady excitedly told me that her young son had a baby and that she was a grandmother. I curiously asked, “Is he married? Is he working to provide for his own?” I was surprised at her candor when she said, "Oh, they just don’t do it that way anymore".

Many years ago I knew a man who left his wife and four young children for another woman. I recall strongly warning and rebuking his decision based on this verse: "But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever". He did not heed the warning and has since walked a degenerate path, cutting off so many who’d helped him early on.

Fundamental to God’s order is the mandate to provide for our own. The Scripture teaches us that failure to do so amounts to denying the faith and leads to a condition "worse than an unbeliever". That's strong language but I'm merely quoting the Bible! The apostle Paul uses very strong words of condemnation for those who forsake their responsibility in providing for their own. I believe these words stand today.

Today let us consider a vital rule Paul gave to the Thessalonian believers (and through Scripture to all of us) "If a man will not work, he shall not eat". For many today such a rule seems harsh and mean-spirited. Sadly, in our liberalized society the rule for many is now, "If a man will not work, the government should take care of him".

Let’s consider the topic of personal responsibility today in light of Scriptures:

1) There are those who aspire to self-sufficient independence. A major goal of many in my generation (known as baby boomers) is "financial independence". This means working hard and planning ahead so that one is "set for life". There are commendable features to such an outlook but this was the major goal of a man whom God called a fool in (Luke 12:16-21). Jesus teaches us to live one day at a time and, although hard work and planning is prudent, (consider the ant) we must be certain that our reliance is not on our own hard work, achievements or planning, but rather on God.

2) There are those who live irresponsibly in unhealthy and unbiblical dependence on others. Paul’s statements are needed today with so many having the entitlement attitude: "The world owes me a living". This is a dominant and growing sin of our time and leads to many other sins as well. Paul’s simple, straightforward rule to the Thessalonians, "If a man will not work, he shall not eat", flies right in the face of the current welfare state mentality. Perhaps even more blunt is his statement, "But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever" (1 Timothy 5:8). Faithful preachers need to preach on these passages!

Such statements sound unkind and unsympathetic to many in a generation bred under the prevalent philosophical view of “cradle to grave dependency”. However, in other passages such as 1 Timothy 5:3, Paul advocates care for the genuinely needy.

3) The biblical teaching on this matter is the call to personal responsibility. Paul commanded and urged the Thessalonians to "Settle down and earn the bread they eat". In other words God has ordained that we labor. We must be cautious about both an unhealthy attitude of independence lest we trust in ourselves rather than God, or that of dependence on others lest we develop an attitude of laziness, entitlement or personal irresponsibility.

Today, remember the words of Scripture and see your labor as an act of faith, obedience, and personal responsibility.

Be encouraged today!  Hebrews 3:13

Stephen & Brooksyne Weber