2 Thessalonians 3:6-13 (NRSV)
Read 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13 on biblegateway.com
Verse 6Now we command you, beloved, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to keep away from believers who are living in idleness and not according to the tradition that they received from us. Verse 7For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us; we were not idle when we were with you, Verse 8and we did not eat anyone's bread without paying for it; but with toil and labor we worked night and day, so that we might not burden any of you. Verse 9This was not because we do not have that right, but in order to give you an example to imitate. Verse 10For even when we were with you, we gave you this command: Anyone unwilling to work should not eat. Verse 11For we hear that some of you are living in idleness, mere busybodies, not doing any work. Verse 12Now such persons we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living. Verse 13Brothers and sisters, do not be weary in doing what is right.
Devotion
In our secondary boarding school days, “no contribution, no chop” was a popular phrase. Dining hall meals were not the best, so everyone packed some gari (roasted cassava flour), shittor (preserved pepper stew), canned fish and meat, evaporated milk and cocoa powder to school. Even though it was against regulations, we organized communal in-between meals daily. That’s where “no contribution, no chop” came in: if you do not contribute to the common meal you will not partake. This was because some students hoarded food and were parasites on others.
In today’s text, the Apostle Paul is reminding us that laziness, idleness and mediocrity are not Christian virtues. As the Ewé people of Ghana are fond of saying, Kuviator fe agblemee da dziavi do, which means, “It is in the lazy person’s farm that snakes reproduce.”
God calls us to hard work and service, to make the most of every situation in which we find ourselves.
Prayer
Lord, help us to serve you and the whole creation with all our heart and with all our soul and with all our mind and with all our strength. Amen.