¹¹For we hear that some among you are leading an undisciplined life, doing no work at all, but acting like busybodies. ¹²Now such persons we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ to work in quiet fashion and eat their own bread.

Grapevine communications are not just a modern phenomenon. Word had gotten back to Paul about some believers in the Thessalonian church being freeloaders. The problem was obvious, and the young believers in Thessalonica needed guidance. This problem is not uncommon, for the natural instinct of new believers is toward selfless sharing. Witness the reaction of the Jerusalem church just after the day of Pentecost:

For there was not a needy person among them, for all who were owners of land or houses would sell them and bring the proceeds of the sales and lay them at the apostles’ feet, and they would be distributed to each as any had need. (Acts 4:34–35)

Wherever Christians have gone, they have begun social activities and programs to help the poor, the sick, and the needy. However, this gracious attitude of believers was not to be presumed upon as an entitlement. Paul had made the case through his example and teaching that those who are able to work should shoulder their own load and not be a burden to others.

Work takes discipline, but some see Christian charity as a free ride. Some even make it their goal in life to live off the generosity of others. One person once said, “If I can get someone else to do my work, then why should I do that work?” At the same time, such people can present themselves as quite busy doing “important” things, when in fact they are nothing more than busybodies!

Now, someone could lay a charge of “judgmentalism” at Paul’s feet, but that is a superficial notion. He is encouraging his readers not to be naïve. There are times when we do need to evaluate people’s lives and how we should best respond to their presenting needs. Sometimes that means challenging them to get to work and pull their own weight, and not expect a pat on the back in the process. Working for one’s own food is not heroic; it is simply taking responsibility for one’s own needs, and not using up the charity needed by those genuinely unable to provide for themselves. There is nothing sub-Christian about doing this. Paul uses the same word for “command” as he did earlier to avoid people like that (2 Thess. 3:6). He lays down the exhortation directly to the lazy person in the form of a command. Get to work!

Lord, help me to eliminate every vestige of laziness in my life.