In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command you, brothers and sisters, to keep away from every believer who is idle and disruptive 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 offer ourselves as a model for you to imitate. For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: “The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat.” 

We hear that some among you are idle and disruptive. They are not busy; they are busybodies. Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the food they eat.

Some people hardly work and make money. Others work hard and make little money. But the combination of not working and not having any money is not palatable for any group of people over time. They, in essence, take the food earned by others.

Paul calls these people idle. They scheme up plans to rob and steal from others. This is done with deceptions and empty promises. And so, Paul points to his own hard work among them. He points to how he and his companions did not eat food they did not earn. And though they had a right to claim the food they earned through ministry, they also worked outside of ministry to earn their own food.

This is a call to work hard. The Puritan work ethic is alive and well in the Bible. This is the work ethic that, in large part, built the USA. And it honors God and honors our fellow man.

I need to look for ways to work hard as unto the Lord.  

Lord, thank you for this encouragement today. I pray that you will go before me and honor my work in your name.