11 For we hear that there are some who walk among you in a disorderly manner, not working at all, but are busybodies. 12 Now those who are such we command and exhort through our Lord Jesus Christ that they work in quietness and eat their own bread. 13 But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary in doing good. 14 And if anyone does not obey our word in this epistle, note that person and do not keep company with him, that he may be ashamed. 15 Yet do not count him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother. 2 Thessalonians 3:11-15
Today I will be finishing up my walk through 2 Thessalonians. With that comes another admonition from Paul about laziness. As with verse 6, verse 11 comments about those in the body who are living in a "disorderly manner." This time around Paul also speaks of them as "busybodies."
We all know what a busybody looks like. This is the person or group that is constantly moving but getting nothing done. Whether they intentionally desire to skirt their responsibilities or they are blind to their lack of actual work is hard to know sometimes. In fact, I was one of these busybodies in high school (as most high schoolers are in many cases). I ran around "knowing everything" and helping structure my "crew" but to what end? While my intentions may have been good...what I was doing was like chasing the wind and did not bring about much fruit. Whatever the case...a busybody needs to be confronted.
But how?
Well, Paul answers that in verse 12, "Now those who are such we command and exhort through our Lord Jesus Christ that they work in quietness and eat their own bread." This group of disorderly busybodies sometimes needs a wake up call in the form of a brother or sister in Christ who can speak to the issue at hand in love and firmness. A busybody left to themselves can lead to gossip and division and so it must be dealt with accordingly. That is why in verse 14 we are commanded to not keep the company of such a person to so that they are "put to shame."
Of course, shame is not a word people like to think about (especially in Christian circles) because we think that no one should have do deal with it BUT if someone is in sin or is not listening to a teacher...should they not be ashamed? Regardless of the cultural norm...it is obvious by this passage that shame is indeed a tool used by God to discipline his children. Of course, we cannot forget the rest of this passage found in verse 15 where we are told not to count him as an enemy but to admonish him as a brother.
These are sometimes hard things to read and put into practice because no one enjoys having to tell someone they are wrong or in sin, but according to the scriptures this is very important to the body of Christ. Proverbs 27:6 says, "Faithful are the wounds of a friend, But the kisses of an enemy are deceitful." Just as God disciplines those He loves - the body of Christ needs to keep each other accountable because of their love for one another. This leads to further growth as well as weeding out of the goats within the flock (goats are those who are unbelievers "playing church"). These are both important elements to growing a church in holiness and righteousness so that it will be better used for the proclamation of the gospel.
Remember, love is key when discipline is enacted.
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