word. Now once again may he help
us as we meditate in the second epistle of Paul to the Thessalonians
and the third chapter and tonight we'll think upon verses 11, 12
and 13. So the second epistle of Paul
to the Thessalonians chapter 3 and reading verses 11, 12 and
13. For we hear that there are some
which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies. Now them that are such we command
and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ that with quietness they
work and eat their own bread. but ye brethren be not weary
in well-doing. Quite clearly the Apostle Paul
had reason to speak to Thessalonians in this vein as we meditated
last week we saw how there was that word of direction given
to those which he says for yourselves ought to know how you ought to
follow us but we behave not ourselves disorderly among you. We know
of course that the Apostle did set a good example and then also
he told us neither did ye eat any man's bread for nought but
wrought with labour and travel night and day that we might not
be chargeable to any of you. not because we have not power,
but to make ourselves an ensemble unto you, to follow us. For even
when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would
not work, neither should he eat. So therefore he follows those
words and now comes and tell us, for we hear And there are
some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all but are busybodies. I suppose we could say, well,
the truth is we know the devil finds work for idle hands to
do. And therefore we should be concerned
that we do work in whatever way the Lord has for us. We can go
right back, can't we? interesting to consider when
the Lord created the earth and Adam and Eve and he put Adam
and Eve into the garden that garden of Eden that perfect place
and yet we're told his instructions to Adam and Eve and those instructions
were the Lord took the man and put him into the garden of Eden
to dress it and to keep it so quite clearly At the beginning
of time, the Lord ordained that man should work. Although he
lived in that perfect environment, there was still work to do, not
just to sit around and admire those things, which were obviously
very wonderful in that day. And we should recognize, therefore,
that the Lord has granted us we live on the earth now we're
not to waste our time we are to work we are to do God's will
we are to obey his will sometimes I think of that word redeeming
the time because the days are evil, and we can't redeem the
time if we're just lazing around and doing nothing. And also,
you see, he says, in which walk among you disorderly. And that
means, really, as he goes on to say, but our busy bodies. And that means, therefore, that
we're not doing those things which are good. We're probably
gossiping. It's not really profitable. We
go around and are busybodies, not minding our own business,
but trying to get involved in other people's business. And
so the apostle saw fit, under the influence of the Holy Spirit,
to write such words as this. And he tells us, he goes on,
now then, them that are such, we command. He's bold, isn't
he? We command and exhort. Again, not by himself, by our
Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work and eat their
own bread. That means they work so they
can provide for themselves, not to be beggars and travel around
and try and obtain all they need without work. The Lord has placed
us in this world and we are to work. and we are to work willingly
and we are to work for his honour and for his glory. We should
always be concerned therefore that we do things well as unto
the Lord because our lives are therefore examples And we know
the Apostle went about, didn't he? How much work he did as he
travelled around. And also, as we spoke last week,
of course, so that he wouldn't be burdensome, he took up tent
making and was happy to work well and hard so that he earned
sufficient money not to be a burden upon the Church of God. And quite
clearly these testimonies and examples are there for our instruction
that we might recognise how the Lord plans our lives. And so then he says, Now then
that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ
that with quietness they work and eat their own bread. It means
we don't make a great song of it, we just get on and do that
which the Lord has put for us. that whatever our hand finds
to do, we should do it therefore with our might. And then he lastly
goes on to say, But ye brethren, be not weary in well-doing. Again, that's a good word of
instruction, isn't it? You mustn't be weary in well-doing.
And just you think of the Blessed Saviour Himself. What did he
do? He went about doing his father's
will. Well doing. He spent his life
in well doing. He never complained at what he
had to do. He did his father's will. Of
course that culminated in the glorious death upon that cross.
Yes, he was not weary even then. although weary physically, but
willing to do his Father's will. And how good that is for us today
to remember. You and I are on this earth,
on this earth for a divine purpose. We didn't just come here by chance,
we didn't just arrive by the will of man, but we arrived on
this earth by the will and purpose of Almighty God. And as we're
on the earth now, we are not to be weary in well-doing. Sometimes
there will be those things which come into our lives which perhaps
we don't want to do, perhaps we don't like doing, and yet
remember it is to do it as unto the Lord, to be made willing
in the day of His power. There is a satisfaction in doing
God's will and not doing our will. How easy it is to get sidetracked
sometimes and think well I think if I do that that would be good
well we have to be very very careful that we are well doing
and we're not evil doing but ye brethren be not weary in well
doing again sometimes we may get weary we may get weary it
may be difficult work and hard work And yet the Lord says here,
brethren, remember the Apostle addresses us so often like this,
brethren, it's not those who are against the things of God,
but those who are companions. Brethren, be not weary in well-doing. In Galatians, in the sixth chapter,
the ninth verse, we read, as we have therefore opportunity,
Let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are
the household of faith. And sometimes the temptation
to forget the first part. And yes, it's pleasant and good
and often a happy occupation to do good unto the household
of faith. Well, we're told to do that especially,
but we are told whenever opportunity occurs. You see, not sometimes when it
suits us. As we have, therefore, opportunity,
let us do good unto all men. Again, we come back, don't we,
to the Saviour. We come back to His glorious
example. He went about doing good, didn't He? And my friends,
you and I are on the earth now. And we should follow that example. And therefore, let us not forget
such a very simple statement, a very important statement. Let
us do good unto all men. How is it we come in contact
with? Don't turn away. We can think perhaps it's a bit
like the parable of the Good Samaritan. Yes, there was that
man who fell among thieves and, well, The first two people, the
priest and Levi, they passed by on the other side. They didn't
want to get involved, and they probably thought, well, it serves
him right. But you see, the good Samaritan came where he was. He went out of his way. He did
all that was necessary, and he paid the bill for that man to
be looked after. It's a good example, isn't it?
There it is as a statement and a parable set before us by the
Lord Jesus Christ. And again, we should not forget
these truths in the Word of God, and they may be a good testimony
to us. And remember, we are to especially
do good to them of the household of faith. That really means we're
to go the extra mile with such, but notwithstanding, we are still
to do good unto all men. May God be gracious to us and
instruct us in these