A Call to Responsibility
Open Your Bible
2 Thessalonians 3:6-15, 2 Corinthians 11:5-9, Hebrews 13:20-21
BY Melanie Rainer
Oftentimes, Scripture abounds with rich nuance. It reflects forward and backward, teasing out references to the Old Testament or the New. It can be read in layer after layer, each one peeled to reveal a deeper truth about our relationship to God and His to us. Sometimes, a passage is the opposite: it gives us truth, straight to the point. It tells us how to live, how to love, how to spend our money, how to be saved.
“Clarity is kindness,” is a phrase I live by, learned from my dearest mentor. In today’s passage from 2 Thessalonians, Paul is delivering the same kindness. There’s nothing nuanced, tucked between flowery phrases, hinting at something only the most educated will understand. Paul serves it straight up: work. Work hard. Don’t be lazy, or idle. And don’t grow weary in doing this good work (2Thessalonians 3:13).
Work was a creation mandate, established even before the fall. God worked (He created). Adam worked (he named the animals and had dominion over them). And for the rest of time since, the people made in God’s image work and will work. Was Paul talking about a 9-to-5 career, a desk job and an expense account? No, he wasn’t. In fact, the historical Protestant work ethic mixed in with the rags-to-riches American dream has undoubtedly distorted our view of work as a chiefly economic practice. But work is innate to our life and our calling as Christians, whether that work is at a Fortune 500 company, a grocery store, a school, caring for a sick parent, or taking care of a home and children. Paul doesn’t distinguish or categorize work: one type is not better or more righteous than the other. But he is clear on one thing: work matters.
Work is, in fact, critical to our flourishing as humans. Our witness to the gospel is bound up in our work, in the way we care for others and work for the good of those around us. In his book Every Good Endeavor, Tim Keller writes about work being a “channel of God’s love for his world.” So, if work—be it at home, at a hospital, in a church, or at a restaurant—is a way to carry God’s love outward, it makes sense that Paul would be aghast at idleness.
Work will bring weariness, pain, suffering, frustration. It will break us, mold us, and tempt us to create idols in our hearts. Work is broken by sin and ungodly motivations, but it still belongs to God. He made us to work, and Paul exhorts us to not grow weary in this good, good work of image-bearing, creating, and serving the God who loves us. He has commissioned us to be His ambassadors in this busy, working world.
48 thoughts on "A Call to Responsibility"
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I’ve never read in the Bible that we’re supposed to retire. We may retire from our original occupation, but we are to be engaged with others, serving others. I am blessed had almost 75 to still be able to tutor students with learning disabilities out of my home. I was even able to continue that how caring for my mother the last year-and-a-half of her life. I have a wonderful husband how to enable me to do that. I love that I can pour into the life of my students and they’re wonderful moms, using my spiritual gift of exhortation and encouragement. Idleness is not something I often experience, as I have six grown children and too many grandchildren. Of course I have many other problems with my flesh.
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Unruly, undisciplined, doing no work at all, a busybody. How could these words possibly describe a fellow Christian? Surely not! Yet Paul uses those very words for certain Thessaloniki “brethren.” Paul challenged them to follow his example. He offers himself as a model. Ouch! Would I dare do the same?? Hmmmm
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My father brought me up to believe that if you like what you do — the work you do — then you were meant to do it. I feel that if you like or even enjoy your job or occupation then it’s the job or occupation God meant for you to have. I have been an LPN (Licensed Practical Nurse) for over forty years and I enjoy nursing on the level I’m on. I don’t want to become an RN and I believe this is the career God and Christ has planned for me. I’m in a job I wouldn’t trade for anything right now. I have had multiple offers to make more money but I enjoy what I’m doing and I feel that’s what work is all about. I am thankful God gave me this position.
Be blessed sisters and have a great day. -
For27 years I was a stay at home mom to 10 kiddos…my favorite job in the world …so grateful to my husband as the financial provider and grateful to God for giving me tools and friends along the way to help me stretch those hard earned dollars so that I COULD stay at home. 8 years ago it was necessary for me to find a job that would give us an extra $500 a month to pay for our portion of Heath insurance through my husband’s employer at that time. God provided me with the “perfect” job for me as a coffee hostess at a local convenience store/gas station. Nothing glamorous and I am the oldest employee there. But I get to help customers start their day with a good cup of coffee, latte, mocha…..a smile and some kind words. I am often asked to pray for someone and have been able to share a God-wink now and then. I always taught my children to have a good work ethic…help out wherever you are able, do your best and try to learn something new everyday. I pray that my co-workers (most as old as my children) will see the benefit of working together, of being of service to others, and that they will see Jesus in me while I look for Jesus in them.
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Clarity is kindness. I’ve never thought of it that way. But yet I see so much truth in this statement. I pray to be an instrument of your love, grace, peace, and joy. And that my faith and hope in You is evident. I pray for clarity. Thank you ladies for so much wisdom.
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Good words. Lord, may my work at the office and at home bring you joy and may I honor you init and be a blessing to those you place in my path. God give me a heart to workat home and give me your peace in it. In Jesus name Amen. If you did not get a chance. Read HRT too very good. So blessed by you all and this ministry.
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I love my job! I’ve been there just over 10 years. I work at a school. My overseer/boss is a personal friend of mine. She loves Jesus! And let me tell you, she is a great example of a Christ follower. And though our school is not a Christian school there are many Christians there. I need to remind myself that it’s a mission field. I told myself, I need to stop complaining, be an example to the nonbelievers as my overseer does. She has no favorites, treat everyone equally, she does not exalt herself because she is in charge yet as a servant. Age wise she’s a few years younger than me but she has shown such maturity. A few days ago when I was growing weary and as I was walking to work I reminded myself, I am the Christian. I need to set that example. And I wrote down what Churchmouse said the other day: “Rejoicing. Praying. Thanking. Does my face, my words, and my actions give evidence of these.” I emphasized on “my face”. What does my face look like. Even when I don’t agree or I feel that I’m not treated right. I remind myself, I am a Christian and I need to set an example just like my boss. I bear the name of Christ and I need a bear it well.
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Loved this Angie!!! Thank you!!
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