Insightful Musings on the Scriptures
by
Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67
Hello, nice people.
The two little boys just showed up. I have the swimming pool filling for their use—with dish soap in the water so it is sudsing all over the place—as if we need a pool when we have the creek. Oh well. And, oh yes—I need to remember that I promised Kaden that we would make applesauce while he’s here this time. The summer apples are now ripe and dripping off the tree.
May you day go like it should.
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—a consistent persistent HEART AFTER GOD. 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 doing what is right—never tire of seeking first to please God.