Insightful Musings on the Scriptures
by
Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67
Greetings, dear people.
I can’t even remember the last time I slept in till 7am. But I did this morning. Perhaps the pressure of this mural frame project and the presence of 4 grandkids (6 on Wednesday) was more exhausting than I was aware.
I have a lot of catch up stuff on my list. And I still want to get in a little veggie garden this season. I’m hoping that I can prepare the spot today and on Monday get a load of some recommended soil for a raised garden and get it planted. There is something about this kind of effort that is wholesome and enjoyable, even if it may not necessarily be cost-effective.
May your day be a good one.
Love, Dad/Ray
I believe we have more idleness in our society today than ever before. That is the natural result of technology. The other day my doctor made the comment, “We are conveniencing ourselves to death.” Then when we add the psychological disorder brought on by a popular unnecessary dependence on welfare (and programs like it), it really does make for a widespread unproductive idleness. I don’t want to be unreasonably judgmental, but by my own unofficial observation, many (if not most) who get in line for this form of income are in the class of obesity. Is that significant?
We can only assume that there were some in the Thessalonian church who over-enjoyed the fellowship and communal living that may have developed in the wake of this Gospel revival and were happy just to hang out and eat. That had to be the cause for Paul emphasizing the rule: “If a man will not work, he shall not eat” (3:10). Unless there are legitimate handicaps and incapacitations, that sounds to me like a pretty good equitable rule.
But let’s give attention to a more serious form of laziness that Paul addresses in this same passage—moral and spiritual laziness. At the end of the first paragraph, Paul makes this statement: “May the Lord direct your hearts into God’s love and Christ’s perseverance” (3:5). To be sure, there is nothing idle about perseverance. Then in verse 13 he adds: “And as for you, brothers, never tire of doing what is right.” And to be sure, it is highly unlikely that you will ever be guilty of doing what is wrong if you never tire of seeking first the Kingdom of God and doing what is right.