When Paul visited a town, he didn’t ask the people there to support him. He found a side job and earned enough to pay his way. Here’s what he says about people who don’t want to work:
In this chapter Paul is responding to a report that some of the folks from Thessalonica have quit working. I don’t know if they have “retired early” or are claiming some disability. Maybe they are just saying “I can’t find any work right now” or making up some other excuse. In any case, Paul isn’t having it. He says that everyone who is involved with the Church should earn their keep, and he calls their attention to the fact that he never “charged” for his evangelistic services, even though he could have.
I wonder how this went over in the church. I know that in the U.S. today we have more people who are unemployed, or underemployed than at any time in recent history. I see that in the church there are always a small percentage that draw from the resources, but don’t ever put anything back. They take, but they never give. How would Paul approach that today?
Paul encourages the Church to “stay away from” believers who refuse to work. That’s really interesting…Paul isn’t claiming that they don’t know Christ, so they shouldn’t be treated as unbelievers, but he has an expectation that they will produce something as part of the body. And if they don’t, then they won’t be fed by the body.
Could the same thing be considered for modern day believers who attend faithfully, but never support the ministry by tithing, or volunteering? We have three groups within the church, it seems. The first group (about 20% generally) are overachievers. The church wouldn’t be what it is without them. They keep the place running. the second group (I’m going to guess about 60%) help once in a while, give some portion of income…maybe “almost” a tithe. This group, being so large has a wide range of service hours. Some are almost into the next level. Others barely qualify as helpers. They certainly are deserving of any support the church can give them, because they are faithful supporters themselves. The last 20% attend the services and the potluck dinners, but don’t contribute. They use the services, but either cannot, or will not help. There isn’t an age demographic here, or a certain segment of society. This group is diverse, having some young and some old, some wealthy and some poor, both men and women, married and unmarried.
I wonder which group causes the most commotion? Which group has the largest number of complaints, and ideas about how things should be changed? ….. I’m smiling.
Okay, enough of that. In the very beginning of this letter Paul requests one thing of the church, and that’s prayer. He knows that more than their financial or emotional support he needs the favor of God on his efforts. If the Lord is moved to help, then nothing formed against him will stand. Paul knows this, and he asks the church to fulfill this most important task.
How often do you pray? Do you ask the Lord to continue to support those who are in leadership positions within the church (both locally and globally)? Do you ask that the missionaries continue to be blessed? When is the last time that you prayed for the ministry of your local church, asking God to bless you with His ideas, and His favor?
While we are praying, let’s pray that the hardest workers in the church don’t burn themselves out, or get their personal lives out of balance. And let’s pray that those who could do more, will be encouraged to do so. In fact, let’s pray that the Holy Spirit will so fill each person that there isn’t room within the body to contain the blessing, and it begins to spill out on the communities in which we live. Let’s pray that every church becomes an artesian well of blessing from God.
living in thankful awe of God’s never-ending supply,
PR