Insightful Musings on the Scriptures
by
Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67
Good morning, dear people.
Becki and I knocked out a walk/jog earlier. We can both tell we haven’t been doing that very regular of late.
We’re talking about idleness below. I sure don’t see any room for it in my list of objectives for the day. But we’re planning to run to Dallas this evening. Andy gave us an invitation to join them in eating up that tuna they caught Saturday. We’ll try to legitimize that little bit of idleness.
Have a good day.
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 God-inspired revival and were happy just to get in on the benefits—to hang out, socialize, 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 to me.
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.” 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.