Stand Firm in Doing Good (2 Thessalonians 3:1-18)
躺平 (pinyin: tǎng píng), which translates to lying flat, means choosing to "lie down flat and get over the beatings" via an indifferent attitude towards life. And 摆烂(pinyin: bǎi làn), which translates as "let it rot", which means embracing a deteriorating situation rather than trying to turn it around.
There is a cultural and social shift in China's youth, leading to many of its younger people adopting a "lying flat" and "let it rot" approach to life and employment.
From "Hikikomori" in Japan, to a lesser extent, "quiet quitting" in America, to "NEET": Not in Education, Employment or Training, in the UK, to "bo-chap, don't care" in Singapore, there is a growing worldwide shift towards a lackadaisical, idle-ness-embracing, half-hearted attitude and lifestyle, which is disrupting social order in many countries.
Beloved, would it surprise you that the Apostle Paul addresses this issue in 2 Thessalonians 3?
In this passage, he instructs how the church should treat someone "walking in idleness". Some in the Thessalonian church, because they misunderstood the teaching of Jesus' return and ignored apostolic "traditions" and instructions, have been "lying flat" and disrupting the order in the church.
So, turn with me to 2 Thessalonians 3, as this ancient text addresses a relevant contemporary issue.
Before we jump in, let us address possible hindrances to our receiving this text: Singaporeans, like some others, are incredibly overworked. Many of us work at least 50 plus hours a week, with some routinely working 60-70+ hours. So, what is all this talk about idle-ness, surely it does not apply to us?
God created work for man before the fall: Adam is to work the garden. Work is for us to earn our keep and a stewardship. We are to steward work as a means of creating a God-reflecting culture as we multiply God's image bearers who work, for the glory of God (c.f. Gen. 1:26–28). So diligent work is commendable, but overwork is not.
There are reasons for overwork, such as treating work as an idol and greed for accumulating material wealth. Overwork can also be a justification and excuse to "lay flat" when it comes to praying for one another and doing spiritual good to each other. So beloved, for those who worked hard, I encourage you also to listen: 2 Thessalonians 3 is also for you.
But first, some context: Paul’s second letter to the Thessalonians comforts those eagerly awaiting Jesus Christ's promised return. Since receiving Paul’s first letter, the Thessalonians’ faith in Christ and their love for one another had continued to grow. At the same time, they endured difficulties and affliction for the gospel's sake.
Paul writes to encourage them to stand firm in their commitment to the gospel and the doctrine (or "tradition") they had learned from the apostles. False prophets had been spreading rumours suggesting that the “day of the Lord” had already come (2 Thess. 2:2). Paul writes to set the record straight by providing further details about the events surrounding Christ's second coming in 2 Thessalonians 2 and Paul concludes the chapter with a call to "stand firm" in 2 Thessalonians 2:15.
So, how do we "stand firm"?
In 2 Thessalonians 3, Paul explains how to stand firm and addresses the misbehaviour resulting from the Thessalonians’ misunderstanding of Jesus' return and their ignoring the apostolic "traditions."
We stand firm by praying for the gospel's progress and doing good diligently because our God is faithful.
The big idea of this passage is that we stand firm by praying for the gospel's progress and doing good diligently because our God is faithful.
Paul begins 2 Thessalonians 3 with a “Finally,” indicating that he has finished the letter's main argument on Jesus' return. But he sees that he needs to give some additional exhortations and encouragement. So, in these verses, we have Paul's encouragement to pray and do spiritual good.
The outline today is in two sections:
We stand firm by praying for the gospel's progress and our deliverance (2 Thess 3:1-5).
We stand firm by persevering and diligently doing good (2 Thess 3:6-18).
We stand firm by praying for the gospel's progress and our deliverance (2 Thess 3:1-5)
In his benediction in 2 Thessalonians 2:17, Paul prays that God "establish [our hearts] in every good work and word." In the 2 Thessalonians 3:1-5, he urges us to speak a "good word" of prayer: Firstly, praying for the word of the Lord, the gospel, to speed ahead.
Paul asks the Thessalonian church to keep praying for Paul and the missionary team (2 Thess 3:1). He asks that we pray that "the word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honoured." The phrase "speed ahead" brings images of an athlete running unhindered and crossing the finish line successfully. It is a prayer for the spread of the gospel and the success of the gospel. If you ever wonder, “How should I pray for pastors or evangelists, church planters, missionaries, and faithful preachers in other churches?” This would be a great prayer. It is not our competence, abilities, or faithfulness that makes the gospel successful — but God who does the work. We should pray for the spread and fruit of the gospel as God blesses his people's gospel work.
The Thessalonians themselves were evidence of God’s gospel taking hold of their hearts, so Paul urges them to pray for others that, likewise, the gospel will take hold of their hearts. One of the ways that you know that the gospel has taken hold of your heart is that you care about the gospel taking hold of other people’s hearts. So, beloved, please continue to pray for the gospel to speed ahead in Grace Baptist Church and beyond.
Secondly, Paul urges us to pray for deliverance. In 2 Thessalonians 3:2, we read, “and that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men. For not all have faith.” Paul’s second prayer request is “Pray … that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men.” This prayer is more than merely theoretical. Throughout his missionary journey, some opposed him, contradicting the gospel he was preaching: Paul calls these people “wicked and evil men" who do not have faith — meaning they are likely unbelievers. To oppose the gospel and hinder gospel ministry is a serious thing. So Paul asks the Thessalonians to pray for deliverance from such people.
Today, we need to pray for our gospel workers in countries where opposition to the gospel occurs. We must pray that they will be delivered from those who opposed Christ. In Singapore, we must pray for religious freedom so the gospel can go forth unhindered.
Paul asks for prayer, but he yet has confidence. Do you see it in 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4? After asking for these two prayers for himself and his companions, Paul assures his readers that he is confident of what God is doing. He speaks of a two-fold confidence — about what the Lord is doing for the Thessalonians and what the Lord is doing in the Thessalonians.
In 2 Thessalonians 2:3, Paul says he is confident that God will strengthen and guard these Christians. God is for them and will guard them against the opposition that sets themselves against them. Evil and wicked men sought to hinder them in their ministry, so Paul thought of the evil one and how he wanted to attack the Thessalonians through these wicked men. But the "Lord is faithful": God is with us; he will not leave us or forsake us. He will protect us. Hence, we can be confident that the Lord will establish and guard us against the evil one.
In 2 Thessalonians 2:4, Paul's confidence comes from what God is doing in them. Paul is confident about the Thessalonian church because he sees them obeying what the apostles have taught. But notice who Paul says his confidence is in: “We have confidence in the Lord”. Paul's confidence is not just in the Thessalonians; it is his confidence in what the Lord is doing in them. Though we struggle with temptations and will not be entirely holy until Jesus returns, many of us can look back at our Christian life and see growth towards Christ-like maturity. And Paul sees that happening in the Thessalonians, giving him confidence in their ongoing faith and growth. God is doing something in us so that increasingly, "[we will be] doing and will do the things that [God's Word] command".
Finally, in 2 Thessalonians 3:5, Paul speaks a mini-benediction. Firstly, he wants them (and us) to know the truth that God loves them (and us). Paul mentioned God's love for them in 2 Thessalonians 2:13, 16.
Now, Paul is praying again that the Thessalonian church experience it. Secondly, Paul asks the Lord to direct them “to the steadfastness of Christ” or “to the endurance of Christ.” In other words, Paul wants them (and us) to focus on Jesus Christ's endurance for us. In His incarnation, when He became a human being, Jesus endured suffering, pain, sorrow, rejection, mocking, torture, and death on the cross, though He never sinned. He endured all of those things for us. So when God calls us to endurance in our troubles and trials, we should look at the endurance of Christ for us. Reflecting on Christ's endurance will encourage us and give us perspective. Jesus has already endured great hardships for us so that he can empathize with us and help us even when He calls us to obedience amid difficulties and troubles.
Because Jesus endured the cross, we can endure with faith and obedience. … God's work does not make our work unnecessary; it makes it possible.
Beloved, because Jesus endured the cross, it is on that ground that we can know that we can endure with faith and obedience. The point I'm making is God's work does not make our work unnecessary; it makes it possible. So do not lay flat but stand firm by praying for the gospel's progress and our deliverance.
I speak to my non-Christian friends. You may be here because a Christian friend brought you to visit. Or you came on your own because you visited our website. I welcome you and pray that "the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God." In John 3:16, the Bible tells us of the love of God that acts: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”
God is a creator God who loves His creation. Our destiny is to "perish" as we have rejected God (what the Bible call sin), who has creator rights over the world. However, God so loved us that He sent his only Son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross in our place for our sins. Jesus Christ was raised from the dead so that we will have eternal life if we believe in or trust in Jesus Christ and what He has done for us. My friends, if this is your desire, please speak to your Christian friend who brought you; or you can talk to any of the Elders after the service. We will be glad to tell you more about Jesus Christ.
Beloved, so how else can we stand firm? We stand firm by persevering and diligently doing good.
We stand firm by persevering and diligently doing good (2 Thess 3:6-18)
While awaiting the coming day of the Lord, some believers at Thessalonica had become unwilling to work. Paul urges believers to continue to work and not grow weary of doing good while hoping for Jesus Christ's return. He gives a command in 2 Thessalonians 3:6.
Paul uses strong language here. Three times, the word “command” is used (2 Thess 3:6, 10, 12). The word command means to give an order - like a military general giving an order to his soldiers.
Paul is using his apostolic authority to command the church. Idleness means more than laziness - it also means being irresponsible and disorderly. Those walking in idleness have become a severe problem in the church.
Why were some church members walking in "idleness"? There are a few different perspectives on the reason. Many Bible commentators try to connect this problem of idleness with a misunderstanding of the return of Jesus Christ. One possible reason is that they thought the "Day of the Lord" had come (2 Thess. 2:2), so there was no need to work because they assumed such work would be unnecessary when Christ returned.
Whatever the reason, two things stand, as we will see later in this passage: They are disobedient to the instructions (or "tradition") they had learned from the apostles, and in their idleness, they have caused spiritual harm to and become a burden to the church.
Paul also uses the words “brothers” or “brother” three times (2 Thess 3:6, 13, 15). So Paul is underlining his authority over the church and his relationship with it as he seeks to bring the word of God to bear on the lives of the Thessalonian Christians. Paul delivers his command "in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ," adding weight to his instructions. He does not just warn those who are idle—he tells other believers to keep away from them (2 Thess 3:6)! Believers are to avoid anyone in the church who refuses to work. The brother to be avoided walks in “idleness,” behaving in an undisciplined, disorderly, irresponsible manner by refusing to work or earn his living. The "idle" brother refuses to obey the instructions about work Paul and his colleagues have delivered to the church (“the tradition that you received from us”) in 1 and 2 Thessalonians (3:10; c.f 1 Thess. 4:11).
In contrast to the idle brothers, Paul recalls his time in the Thessalonian church and urges them to follow his example. Consider 2 Thessalonians 3:7-9 with me. Paul and his colleagues “were not idle when we were with you.” They did not “eat anyone’s bread without paying for it.” Paul continued to work as a tentmaker (Acts 18:3) even when he was doing ministry in the Thessalonian church — working doubly hard. He laboured hard so that he and his missionary colleagues were not a financial “burden” to the congregation. Paul and his team had every right to receive financial compensation from the church to whom they were ministering (1 Cor. 9:8–14), but they chose to give up that right for the sake of the young church plant. The church should imitate his example of diligent work.
Paul and the missionary team's example, when they were in Thessalonica, came with an instruction, in 2 Thessalonians 3:10. Note that the teaching here does not reject giving aid to genuinely needy individuals or churches. The concern in this verse is about those who are “not willing to work.” I want to be careful here. There will be times and situations where one intends to work but due to health issues or a tight job market, they might not be able to. In cases like these, we ought to help. Our member care has funds that can help. If you need help, you can approach Thian Chye or any Elders. However, those who can work should not depend on others. Everyone who can work should do so for their upkeep, to support their families, and to meet the needs of others (Eph. 4:28; 1 Thess. 4:11, 1 Tim. 5:8). Paul rounds out his instructions by giving a practical command: If you don't work, you don't eat. The consequence of not working, i.e. not eating, should motivate these "idle" people to work.
Paul then speaks of the practical implications of “walking in idleness" in the church in 2 Thessalonians 3:11-12. Paul and his team received a report about people “walking in idleness.” In addition to causing individual spiritual harm and draining the church's finances, such refusal to work tends to spill over into other disorderly behaviour. The idle become “busybodies.” This behaviour is not getting involved in order to do spiritual good to others. Instead, they become meddlesome, engaging in the activities of others. They begin interfering in other people’s lives, leading to gossip, criticism, and disunity in the church.
Paul closes by addressing those “walking in idleness.” Paul emphasizes his instruction by "commanding and encouraging" them "in the Lord Jesus Christ." He pulls out all the stops in seriously instructing them: They are to “do their work quietly.” They are to work heartily and to avoid acting as gossiping busybodies or grumbling labourers. They are also to "earn their own living,” literally meaning that they should “eat their own food," rather than brazenly depending on others in the church.
Finally, in 2 Thessalonians 3:13-15, Paul concludes this section by instructing the church to persevere in its good works. Paul now addresses the whole church as "brothers," "do not grow weary in doing good". Their knees are weak, and their arms are heavy, perhaps those who walk in idleness have discouraged them, but they are to keep on doing spiritual good. They should not become discouraged or lose heart. They should pursue and persevere in “doing good” on behalf of others, especially among believers in the church.
Finally, Paul and his missionary colleagues insist that the church obey their letter. Paul again asserts his apostolic authority and presses in on the church. The Thessalonians are to “note” those who choose to disobey the apostolic command and are to “have nothing to do” with them. In the same way, in keeping away from the idle brother (2 Thess 3:6), they are to disassociate from such a disobedient person.
As in 2 Thessalonians 3:6, such avoidance does not mean considering the person an enemy or denying the person as a believer. Instead, the "idle" person is to be warned and rebuked. The church disciplines such people for the purposes of (1) seeking their good so that they will repent and (2) seeking the reputation of Jesus Christ, lest shame be brought on the church or other members may be tempted to engage in similar disobedience. In context, Paul is aiming at those who refuse to work. But generally, it can refer to anyone who intentionally disobeys the commands of God's word and is unrepentant.
Beloved, what can we learn from Paul?
Paul preached grace and emphasized obedience.
Firstly, does Paul expect the word of God to be obeyed in the church? This is why Paul repeatedly uses the words “command” and “obey” in this passage. Many well-meaning Christians today think that if we believe in grace, there’s no room left for obedience and duty in the Christian life. The apostle Paul did not think that. He both preached grace and emphasized obedience. The key is to understand where obedience fits in the Christian life. Christians do not believe that we obey to get God to love us. We do not obey to save ourselves but because we have taken Jesus as our Lord and King. We are His disciples and subjects and want to be like Him. The apostle Paul expects the word of God to be obeyed in this congregation and in yours and mine. Beloved, let us take heed and seek to obey God's Word.
Paul’s second principle is this: not to grow weary in doing good (2 Thess. 3:13). Most of the congregation has become discouraged by this minority that has stopped working. We can imagine them throwing up their hands in frustration; they have had enough! And Paul is turning to them and saying, in effect, I know that what you’re dealing with is frustrating. I’ve had to write to you twice about this. It’s frustrating to me too! But don’t stop doing the right thing.
We can easily grow weary of doing the right thing when we see people around us—even in our own congregation—who are not living in accordance with the Bible. That is so discouraging. It makes for cynical, bitter, or proud believers. It causes us to think, “Why bother?” But Paul wants us to listen to something other than that voice. He wants us not to be distracted by others’ wrongdoing but to continue to pursue holiness.
Thirdly, Paul tells the obedient Christians not to condone, approve, or enable those who are not doing good and who will not listen to the command to repent and start obeying (2 Thess 3:14). In other words, he calls for the church to discipline those who disobey and are unrepentant. Paul is speaking to the whole congregation to enact discipline. He is saying that if people refuse to stop sinning even when God's word calls them out on it, other Christians must not condone that or silently approve of it. They must not even associate with them. Every church member needs to play an active part in the mutual accountability of their local church.
What is the point of this discipline? “That he may be ashamed.” Some people are brought to repentance by being ashamed because it shows their actions are unaccepted. This means that we must courageously, humbly, and lovingly go and say, “Brother (or sister), you are not living like a Christian.” These courageous words, humbly and with tears, will bring people back from acting in a way that is out of accord with God’s word, and we have seen it happen. Even as we confront a sinning brother or sister, we still want to win them back. We should have a desire for reconciliation — a desire for restoration.
May Grace Baptist Church be like the church Paul called the believers in Thessalonica to be. May we, as individuals, be swift to repent when we need to, slow to give up on doing good. May we always be willing to seek and celebrate repentance and reconciliation.
Paul closes his letter with his final benediction in 2 Thessalonians 3:16-18. Paul gives us the reason to persevere and diligently do good. He is saying that only the Lord of Peace can provide us with real peace -and he can give it to us at all times, in all ways, in all places, and in all circumstances. This congregation was facing trials of every kind. They were facing pressure and persecution from the outside — and that persecution would increase.
But there were also troubles within this congregation — from those who misunderstood Paul’s teaching about Christ’s return, perhaps wilfully, and caused concern and division. This church needed a sense of peace. So, the Thessalonians needed peace within themselves and between themselves. They needed unity, which can only come from the Lord of peace — the one who died on the cross for all His people. We cannot look down on brothers and sisters when we are kneeling before the throne of grace.
Next, Paul prays, “The Lord be with you all.” In the darkest places of life, we need to know that we’re not alone in them but that the Lord is with us. The peace of the Christian is only possible because of the presence of the Lord — and the peace of the Christian is the abiding presence of our Lord.
Paul is not yet done. In 2 Thessalonians 3:17–18, he writes his final words with his own hand so that the Thessalonians will recognize his writing and know that this letter is genuine. With his own hand, Paul scrawls out the words, “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all” (2 Thess 3:18). God's grace is why we can enjoy peace with God, His people, and His presence. Paul's desire for the Thessalonian church is that they all grow together in their experience and enjoyment of the grace, peace, and presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. So that it will spur them to hold fast to the truth and walk with endurance in their trials until the day the Lord Jesus returns.
And, beloved, this is true for us today.
The main takeaway is that just as God called us through the gospel, so He is faithful to His promise to guard us and establish us in every good work until Jesus returns.
So beloved, do not lay flat, but stand firm. Stand firm by praying for the gospel's progress and doing good diligently because our God is faithful.
Do not lay flat, but stand firm. Continue praying for the gospel's progress and our deliverance.
Do not lay flat, but stand firm. Persevere and diligently do spiritual good.
We do not lay flat but stand firm, because God's work does not make our work unnecessary; it makes it possible.
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Bibliography
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Chapman, D. W. (2024, February 28). 2 Thessalonians: Commentary: David W. Chapman: TGCBC. The Gospel Coalition. https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/commentary/2-thessalonians/
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