If You Don't Work, You Don't Eat

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.’” (2 Thessalonians 3:6-10)

“If you don’t work, you don’t eat.” Isn’t that a favorite saying of parents everywhere? To idle children who neglect the chores they’ve been given, parents love to say, “If you don’t work, you don’t eat.”

That’s actually in the Bible! Some Christians in Thessalonica were so looking forward to Jesus’ return on Judgment Day that they sat around and did nothing. If Jesus was coming back, why work and toil?

Doesn’t that sound like us? It’s hard to get off the couch. Whatever the task is, it seems so much better to have someone else do it. We long for the weekend, so that we can just relax. We long for retirement, so we can be done working for good. We like it when things are just given to us. Idleness is enticing.

But the Bible calls us off the couch. God has things for you to do! It’s true that salvation is God’s gift to you by faith in Jesus. One day Jesus will return and take us home to heaven all by God’s grace. We don’t have to work for our salvation. It’s God’s gift to us through faith in Jesus.

But God still wants us to use the time and abilities that he’s given us to his glory. Every day, he gives us opportunities to serve God and others. Don’t let your abilities go used. Don’t let your time be wasted. 

Whether you’re still a child or working full-time or enjoying retirement, what can you do with your God-given time and abilities today? Remember, “if you don’t work, you don’t eat!”

Dear Jesus, you dedicated yourself everyday to serving and saving me. Forgive me for my laziness and idleness. Help me use my time and abilities to your glory today. Amen.

Pastor Nathan