In the Bible, every verse—indeed every word---stands on its own. Consider 2 Timothy 3:16 which says, “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness…” To that, consider Proverbs 30:5 which says, “Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.” Stands to reason that a “scripture” can either be a group of Verses, one Verse or even one Word.
So, the following is found in 2 Thessalonians 3:10: “For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat.” Pretty strong words, n’est ce pas? It essentially says, ‘No work, no food for you. Next!’ Can that really be the end of story in every case, considering that each Verse can stand on its own? The presumption here is that the person being addressed a) is able-bodied and b) is therefore ready to work. Taken to extremes, does that mean the world should pass him by while he starves?
Consider Matthew 25:31-46 which essentially says that those who do not feed the hungry will not see the Kingdom of God. Does this nullify 2 Thessalonians 3:10 if you want to see God’s Kingdom? Considering the Bible doesn’t contradict itself, some further research is necessary for consideration.
So, we see the very next Verse after 2 Thessalonians 3:10, Verse11 says, “For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies.” Well, that may justify the presumption mentioned above, that the person is abled-bodied and ready to work. One can see that such a person who refuses to work may irk some. Could remind some of those of the plant in the old movie “The Little Shop of Horrors,” about a plant in a flower pot who doesn’t do anything except say “Feed me, I’m hungry!”
But consider Verse 12 which says, “Now such persons we command and encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living.” Well, some compassion is added here by mentioning Jesus whom God sent to save everyone as noted in John 3:17. Now one might say that Verse 12 suggests a form of tough love. But would that enable a person giving such a command to see God’s Kingdom if he says to the Gatekeeper, “I encouraged the guy to work in Jesus’ name, so what else could I have done?”
Well, in the spirit of loving your neighbor, the person could be asked why he won’t work. And to this there many be any one or more of number of reasons the person gives or implies, such as a) he is grieving the death of a loved one, so b) he’s afraid of botching up the work he’s assigned to, or c) his behavior suggests some sign of mental illness that prevents him from focusing on the work at hand and doing it. In this last scenario, perhaps if the person is fed, he can then alleviate enough of his mental illness to focus on the work at hand and do it. I once met a person who was schizophrenic, yet who had enough of his senses to work at a steady job with a world-wide company.
There could be another element in this scenario: the person refusing to work could be an angel sent by God to test the individual in 2 Thessalonians 3:10, in a variation of Hebrews 13:2.
So, the following is found in 2 Thessalonians 3:10: “For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat.” Pretty strong words, n’est ce pas? It essentially says, ‘No work, no food for you. Next!’ Can that really be the end of story in every case, considering that each Verse can stand on its own? The presumption here is that the person being addressed a) is able-bodied and b) is therefore ready to work. Taken to extremes, does that mean the world should pass him by while he starves?
Consider Matthew 25:31-46 which essentially says that those who do not feed the hungry will not see the Kingdom of God. Does this nullify 2 Thessalonians 3:10 if you want to see God’s Kingdom? Considering the Bible doesn’t contradict itself, some further research is necessary for consideration.
So, we see the very next Verse after 2 Thessalonians 3:10, Verse11 says, “For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies.” Well, that may justify the presumption mentioned above, that the person is abled-bodied and ready to work. One can see that such a person who refuses to work may irk some. Could remind some of those of the plant in the old movie “The Little Shop of Horrors,” about a plant in a flower pot who doesn’t do anything except say “Feed me, I’m hungry!”
But consider Verse 12 which says, “Now such persons we command and encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living.” Well, some compassion is added here by mentioning Jesus whom God sent to save everyone as noted in John 3:17. Now one might say that Verse 12 suggests a form of tough love. But would that enable a person giving such a command to see God’s Kingdom if he says to the Gatekeeper, “I encouraged the guy to work in Jesus’ name, so what else could I have done?”
Well, in the spirit of loving your neighbor, the person could be asked why he won’t work. And to this there many be any one or more of number of reasons the person gives or implies, such as a) he is grieving the death of a loved one, so b) he’s afraid of botching up the work he’s assigned to, or c) his behavior suggests some sign of mental illness that prevents him from focusing on the work at hand and doing it. In this last scenario, perhaps if the person is fed, he can then alleviate enough of his mental illness to focus on the work at hand and do it. I once met a person who was schizophrenic, yet who had enough of his senses to work at a steady job with a world-wide company.
There could be another element in this scenario: the person refusing to work could be an angel sent by God to test the individual in 2 Thessalonians 3:10, in a variation of Hebrews 13:2.
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