GOD’S COMMAND TO THE WORKING MAN

II Thessalonians 3:6-10 In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command you, brothers, to keep away from every brother 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 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 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.”

II Thessalonians 3:11-15 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. And as for you, brothers, never tire of doing what is right. If anyone does not obey our instruction in this letter, take special note of him. Do not associate with him, in order that he may feel ashamed. Yet do not regard him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother.

I. What Working People in the Church Should Not Do.

A. You should not associate with the idle person. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command you, brothers, to keep away from every brother who is idle and does not live according to the teaching you received from us. - v6 If anyone does not obey our instruction in this letter, take special note of him. Do not associate with him, in order that he may feel ashamed. - v14 I. What Working People in the Church Should Not Do.

A. You should not associate with the idle person. 1. Idle () = lazy, refusing to work, disorderly, sloppy, insubordinate, AWOL, doesn’t fit in. 1. Idle ( ἀ τάκτως ) = lazy, refusing to work, disorderly, sloppy, insubordinate, AWOL, doesn’t fit in. I. What Working People in the Church Should Not Do.

A. You should not associate with the idle person. 2. When you don’t want to work, what do you do? Beg - leech on others I. What Working People in the Church Should Not Do.

A. You should not associate with the idle person. 3. What is a temptation for idle people? We hear that some among you are idle. They are not busy; they are busybodies. - v11 I. What Working People in the Church Should Not Do.

B. How do you treat him? Yet do not regard him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother. - v15 I. What Working People in the Church Should Not Do.

C. What should you not be discouraged from doing? And as for you, brothers, never tire of doing what is right. - v13 I. What Working People in the Church Should Not Do.

C. What should you not be discouraged from doing? I Thessalonians 5:15 - Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else. I. What Working People in the Church Should Not Do.

C. What should you not be discouraged from doing? Ephesians 4:28 - He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need. I. What Working People in the Church Should Not Do.

C. What should you not be discouraged from doing? 2. What do you do when you become a victim? For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: “If a man will not work, he shall not eat.” - v10 I. What Working People in the Church Should Not Do.

II. What Working People in the Church Should Do.

A. What did the Apostles Paul do? For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example. 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 make ourselves a model for you to follow. - v7-9 II. What Working People in the Church Should Do.

A. What did the Apostles Paul do? 1. He was not idle. For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example. 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 make ourselves a model for you to follow. - v7-9 II. What Working People in the Church Should Do.

A. What did the Apostles Paul do? 2. He wasn’t a burden. For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example. 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 make ourselves a model for you to follow. - v7-9 II. What Working People in the Church Should Do.

A. What did the Apostles Paul do? 2. He wasn’t a burden. For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example. 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. - v7-8 I Corinthians 9:14 - In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel. II. What Working People in the Church Should Do.

A. What did the Apostles Paul do? 3. He did a good job. For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example. 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 make ourselves a model for you to follow. - v7-9 II. What Working People in the Church Should Do.

B. Work quietly without boasting. Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the bread they eat. - v12 II. What Working People in the Church Should Do.

C. Obey God’s word! If anyone does not obey our instruction in this letter, take special note of him. Do not associate with him, in order that he may feel ashamed. - v14 II. What Working People in the Church Should Do.

C. Obey God’s word! 1. Who does this include? Every Christian! II. What Working People in the Church Should Do.

C. Obey God’s word! 1. Who does this include? a. Command () = give instructions, announce something which was told by someone else. a. Command ( παραγγέλλω ) = give instructions, announce something which was told by someone else. (v6, 10 & 12) II. What Working People in the Church Should Do.

C. Obey God’s word! 1. Who does this include? b. Teaching () = tradi-tion, something passed down or announced. b. Teaching ( παράδοσις ) = tradi-tion, something passed down or announced.... from every brother who is idle and does not live according to the teaching you received from us. - v6 II. What Working People in the Church Should Do.

C. Obey God’s word! 1. Who does this include? c. This is God’s word! II. What Working People in the Church Should Do.

C. Obey God’s word! 2. What should we consider this to mean? The whole New Testament to be our authority! II. What Working People in the Church Should Do.

C. Obey God’s word! 3. Why? II Timothy 3: All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. II. What Working People in the Church Should Do.

Are you obeying the word of God? About working hard instead of relying on others? About living a Christian life? About becoming a Christian?