Highlight Paul's letter to the Thessalonians on the matter of idleness and state the consequences of idleness in the society

Thessalonians
3:6-15:
 
  • Paul commanded the brethren in the name of Jesus to keep
    away from a brother who was living in idleness, 
  • Not in accordance with the
    tradition of hardwork and industry which they received from the Apostles, 
  • They ought to imitate the Apostles, since they were not idle when they were
    with the Thessalonians. 
  • The disciples did not eat from the Thessalonians
    without paying, 
  • They laboured and toiled, night and day, that they might
    not burden the Thessalonian Christians, 
  • Though it was their right to
    depend on the Thessalonians, yet they decided to be self-dependent, 
  • In
    order to show their conduct as an example to imitate, 
  • Paul had earlier
    given the Thessalonians an instruction that whoever would not work should not
    be allowed to eat. 
  • News had reached Paul and other Apostles that they were
    mere busy bodies, doing nothing, 
  • Such persons were exhorted in the Lord to
    do their work in quietness, to earn their own living. 
  • They should note
    that anyone who refuses to obey the instructions in the letter should be
    disassociated with, 
  • The Thessalonians should not look upon him as an
    enemy but warn him as a brother.

Three consequences of idleness in the Society:  

  1. Stealing/Robbery 
  2. Disaffection 
  3. Quarrel 
  4. Laziness 
  5. Peddling of rumour 
  6. Drunkenness 
  7. Sexual immorality and its
    attendant problems 
  8. Physical weakness of the body 
  9. Bitterness 
  10. Underdevelopment 
  11. Depending on others 
  12. Thuggery 
  13. Nonentity/nuisance

Post a Comment

0 Comments