If a man will not work, he shall not eat: Really??

A week or so ago our son, Andy, and his two children, Jackson and Kendall, came to our home for a visit and a meal. It has become our custom to read from a devotional book after supper. In fact, the book we use, “Little Visits With God,” is a book used by my wife and her family when she was a child. We often read from the same devotional with our children, until they had all the stories memorized. Jackson chose the devotion for the night, but I had never heard this one.

Each devotion in this book begins with a Bible verse, and then follows with a story, with questions, and finally with a prayer. This specific devotion used a verse which may be considered “politically incorrect” in today’s world. The goal of the verse was to teach the value of work to those reading this day’s lesson. The verse for this day was from 2 Thessalonians 3:10 b “. . . we gave you this rule: ‘If a man will not work, he shall not eat.’” God inspired Paul to write this instruction to the people of Thessalonika because, anticipating the end of the world, some in that church had quit their jobs and were waiting for Jesus to return. These folks were letting the church provide for them. Paul instructs the Christians of this church that each person has a responsibility to provide for themselves, and that able-bodied people shouldn’t depend on others for food and livelihood. The devotion my grandson read made this point in a modern day setting children would understand. As I said, even though we had used this devotional book a lot, I do not remember reading this specific one. And, in today’s world, I was surprised by the topic!

Actually, God’s plan is that people are not only productive in their work, but find meaning and joy in the labor they do. Ecclesiastes 3:22 teaches, “So I saw that there is nothing better for a man than to enjoy his work, because that is his lot.” In our labors, we can serve God. In our work, we can help others as children of God. That gives meaning, and maybe even joy, to life.

Ultimately, the Lord provides for the needs of His people. In The Sermon on the Mount Jesus taught His disciples, “31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” (Matthew 6:31-33) Our heavenly Father provides!

Yet, God also inspired Paul to write about the value of work so that people can help others. An unusual Scripture verse is found in Ephesians 4:28 “He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need.” Imagine that. Stop stealing, and start sharing! But that is God’s plan. Work not only provides for us, but allows us to help others.

That leads to a conversation I had with my next door neighbor the day after our family read the devotion based on 2 Thessalonians 3:10. He told me that he owns some rental property, and has a unique dilemma. Two of his renters in Anchorage have continued working throughout the recent coronavirus cycle. These tenants have good jobs with the government. But, the renters were told by the municipality of Anchorage that, because of the pandemic, they no longer need to pay rent. So, even while receiving full salary, they stopped paying him. The city confirmed to him this situation. How does that fit with God’s instructions through Paul, “If a man will not work, he shall not eat.”?

Ultimately, our greatest treasure in life is not material possessions, but our Savior, Jesus. Jesus offers us His love, His forgiveness, and His salvation. As sinful people, we cannot earn God’s love. It is a gift. We are told of this undeserved gift of God, “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.” (2 Corinthians 8: 9) We work in this life to earn a living, to provide food and shelter. But our real richness is found in God’s eternal home, which Jesus won for us by leaving heaven and coming to earth. Therefore, through Jesus, we receive the unearned riches of eternal life. In response to God’s grace, we then seek to serve God in all we do, including through our daily work.

In today’s changing world, I am not sure what each person believes about the value and necessity of working to provide for themselves. As a child of God who has read through Scripture, I have personally come to believe that God gives work as a gift. Through our labors we serve God. Through our labors we serve and help others. But, ultimately God provides what we need for this life, and for eternal life. In this context I do want my grandchildren to know and take to heart the words of 2 Thessalonians, “If a man will not work, he shall not eat.”