The Trouble at Thessalonica
In AD50 Thessalonica was a bustling Macedonian city; a port on the Aegean Sea. It was flourishing as it was located on the Egnation trade route. In that year, Paul and Silas made it one of their ports of call on Paul’s second missionary journey (49-52AD). This episode is recorded in Acts 17.
They had some good success but considerable hostility also arose. The new believers convince Paul & Silas to get out of town at night which they did. They moved on the Southwest, to Berea. But some of those that they had antagonised followed them to cause trouble.
A little later Paul sent Timothy back to Thessalonica to continue the work that he had started. The two letters to the Thessalonians resulted from Timothy’s reports and were written around 51 and 52 AD. Paul also worked with believers from Thessalonica called Aristachus, Secundus and Demas (although Demas proved to be unreliable).
So what was the Trouble within the new church at Thessalonica?
Some believers there had become idle, not working to support themselves and sponging off fellow believers. In his first letter to the church (1 Thessalonians 4:11), Paul had commanded them to “……work with your hands, as we commanded you”.
A year later, when Paul sent his second letter things had not improved and Paul’s annoyance is clear from the letter (2 Thessalonians 3:10): “For even when we were with you, we commanded you. If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat”.
What could have brought about this Attitude in these Thessalonian “idlers”?
So where might this attitude of ‘sponging off others’ have come from? As we have seen these idlers were believers, to be admonished as “brethren”. Whilst believers, they certainly lacked understanding.
Persecution: We have already seen that Thessalonica was a place hostile to believers. Some may have felt that if they avoided the world of work, they would have less contact with people hostile to them.
The Return of Messiah: Some may have believed in the immediate return of Messiah. If the Lord was about to return why get all het up about earning a living. False teachers were talking about the immediate return of Messiah and thus these idlers could hide irresponsibility under a cover of spirituality.
Greek Philosophy: Although Rome ruled in the area, Greek philosophy and culture were the dominant social and intellectual influences. These believers may have seen themselves as the new elite; having received their salvation. If so, they may have considered copying the highest echelons of Greek society where the expenditure of energy and especially manual labour were disdained. The top Greeks spent their time reading and discussing philosophy. Thus they considered themselves to be the only truly civilised people.
Paul Worked with his Hands!
Wherever these idlers in Thessalonica got the idea about not working for a living, they certainly did not get it from Paul.
Acts 20:34; (Paul addressing the Ephesians): “Yes, you yourselves know that these hands have provided for my necessities, and for those who were with me…”.
Acts 18:1-3; (in Corinth): “After these things, Paul departed from Athens and went to Corinth. And he found a certain Jew named Aquila born in Pontus who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla (because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to depart from Rome) and he came to them. So because he was of the same trade, he stayed with them and worked; for by occupation they were tentmakers”.
Had Paul the right to claim financial support for himself and his companions from the churches they were serving?
Yes indeed!
He did receive some financial assistance from the church at Philippi but normally he earned his own living. The Jewish tradition of course was that those who were serving God would receive the support from the rest of society (Levites and the Cohen).
In 1 Corinthians 9:4-7, Paul writes: “Do we have no right to eat and drink? Do we have no right to take along a believing wife as do also the other apostles, the brothers of the Lord’ and Cephas? Or is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to refrain from working? Whoever goes to war at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat the fruit? Or who tends a flock and does not rink of the milk of the flock?”.
So Why did Paul not claim Financial Support from the Churches?
It was not because he was rolling in money. In fact he was materially poor but rich in God. He wanted to set a good example to fellow believers and to the outside world in the belief that the genuine love within the churches would attract others to the faith.
Acts 20:35; “I have shown you in every way, by labouring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.””.
Paul wished to show that where there is no love of money, people can use their resources to care for others (2 Thessalonians 3:13): “But as for you, brethren, do not weary in doing good”.
False teachers were clearly in the “gospel business” for the money. Paul did not want to be associated with them and that sort of attitude – he says so in 1 Corinthians 9:12; “Nevertheless we have not used this right (to financial support) but endure all things lest we hinder the gospel of Christ”.
And also in 1 Corinthians 9:18-19; “….That when I preach the gospel, I may present the gospel without charge, that I may not abuse my authority in the gospel. For though I am free of all men, I have made myself a servant to all that I may win the more….”.
In Working for the Lord Paul did not hold back anything!
Paul’s record of service and suffering are well documented. In his own words in 2 Corinthians 11:24; “From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked, a day and night in the deep…” And in 2 Corinthians 11:23 he describes his work as “….in labours more abundant…”.
His missionary journeys covered the following years; AD 46-48; AD 49-52; and AD 53-57. Paul had every right to expect others to contribute to the building of the church in accordance with their gifts and calling.
Galatians 6:2; “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the Law of Christ. For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, deceives himself. But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. For each one shall bear his own load”.
Paul was especially demanding on church leaders – 1 Timothy 5:17; “Let the elders who rule be counted worthy of double honour especially those who labour in the Word and doctrine”. (But not too hard as working oneself to the point of exhaustion is unhealthy and unproductive).
Thus we are all supposed to be working for the Lord in accordance with our gifting.
The Danger of these ‘idlers’ in Thessalonica – for themselves and their fellowships – from their self-serving individualism
These idlers at Thessalonica are described as “busybodies”. The devil makes work for idle hands (as some translations of Proverbs 16:27 put it). They begin to interfere in other people’s lives because they have nothing better to do.
2 Thessalonians 3:10-11; “For even when we were with you, we commanded you thus; if anyone will not work, neither shall he eat. For we hear that there are some who walk about in a disorderly manner, not working at all but who are busybodies”.
These idlers were considered to be “disorderly”. Idleness leads to sin. They risk being admonished by the elders. Of course this might not have a positive result. Continued error would put them in danger of a loss of reward before the Judgement Seat of Messiah.
James 1:14: “But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is fully grown, brings forth death”.
Within fellowships such idlers cause trouble and division. “Busybodies” get involved in gossip. They could discourage their fellow-believers (not everyone may be happy to support those who will not work). They set a poor example to those outside of the church as they demonstrate a lack of Christian love. Indeed Paul had to encourage the positive members of the church at Thessalonica thus (1 Thessalonians 4:10-11); “But we urge you brethren, that you increase more and more; that you aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands; as we commanded you: that you may walk properly toward those who are outside, and that you may lack nothing.”.
The danger for fellowships with “disorderly” members is that it may lose their first love through discouragement.
Galatians 5:14: “For all the Law is fulfilled in one word, even this: You shall love your neighbour as yourself (Matthew 22:36-40)”. The ethics of the Old Testament are the same as in the New. When a fellowship holds to its first love, its members fulfil all the requirements that the Mosaic Law demanded but could not produce. And this is the very thing which results from the exercise of Christian liberty. When the life-giving Spirit of God is in charge, human life yields a rich harvest of love, joy and peace.
The Christian Life as a Struggle/Race
As we have seen rather than coasting our way to eternity, a good deal more is expected of believers.
Galatians 6:2-5; “But let one examine his own works, and he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. For each one shall bear his own burden”.
To “bear one’s own burden” means to deal with the obligations of one’s life and with his/her ministry calling. In his first letter to the Corinthians, Paul used the analogy of participation in sporting events to describe the challenge of leading a fulfilled Christian life:
1 Corinthians 9:24-27: “Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize. Run in such a way that you may obtain it. And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown but we for an imperishable crown. Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest when I preach to others I myself shall become disqualified”.
As the Isthmian games, involving running-races and wrestling, were held in Corinth Paul’s analogy would be well understood by his readers. Strenuous activity requires single-mindedness, discipline and self-control. The “perishable crown” refers to the wreaths presented to the winners at the games. The “imperishable crown” of course is awarded By Yeshua. The fighter who “beats the air” is ineffectual because of a lack of training and discipline. When Paul talks of being “disqualified” he uses a Greek word meaning to be disapproved of after testing and of course Paul was very keen to avoid this in his preaching.
Whilst we are clearly not to look to have an easy life, we should remember that salvation is not dependent on works; but our reward from Yeshua will be directly proportionate to our faithfulness to the Lord.
Salvation is through faith by grace.
Reward is through good work for the Lord.
Working for the Lord is a Privilege
We have already seen that Paul (along with the other apostles) suffered much in serving the Lord. Why did Paul go through all that?
What drove Paul was his love for God, for the Lord and for humanity.
2 Corinthians 5:9; “We make it our aim…. To be well pleasing to him.”.
This love placed a divine compulsion upon him as God had set him apart for service – 2 Corinthians 9:16; “For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for necessity is placed upon me: yes, woe to me if I do not preach the gospel.”.
He shows his love of humanity in 1 Corinthians 9:19; “I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the many.”.
Acts 20:34-35; (addressing the believers at Ephesus), Paul instructed that they must “….support the weak”.
This command is reflecting the Law of Christ which is very different from the Law of Moses. The Law of Moses promised life for obedience but gave no power to obey. It could only encourage obedience by the fear of punishment. The Law of Christ, on the other hand, is loving instruction to those who already have life. Believers are able to keep its precepts by the power of the Holy Spirit and the motivation is live for Yeshua and the desire to emulate Him.
The Error of Trying to Coast through the Christian Life
Bad news for idlers: the enemy is not coasting.
1 Peter 5:8; “Be sober, be vigilant because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.”.
Evil forces will come against the believers to spoil their lives. Satan is a malicious enemy who endangers believers. He and his forces are always active with temptation, persecution and discouragement.
Psalm 22:13; “Many bulls have surrounded me. Strong bulls of Bashan have encircled me. They gape at me with their mouths like a raging and roaring lion.”.
Satan Sows Discord: Accusing God to man; man to God and man to man. He will do what he can to drag believers out of fellowship with Yeshua and out of His service.
Luke 3:2; “Then Satan entered Judas, surnamed Iscariot, who was numbered among the twelve.”’.
2 Corinthians 4:3; “… if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded”.
Sometimes Satan comes as a snake seeking to lure people into moral corruption. Sometimes he disguises himself as a angel of light; or as Peter noted like a “roaring lion” bent on terrorizing God’s people with persecution. Only dependence on the Lord with prayer and the study of God’s Word can ensure the ability to resist him. The Thessalonian idlers, if they did not change their ways, would have had great difficulty in resisting a cruel and cunning enemy who seeks to destroy completely those he can attack because of the weakness of man’s fallen nature.
More Bad News for the Idlers – Suffering is Inevitable!
The idlers of Thessalonica sought an easy, trouble-free life. But there is more bad news for them and their ilk.
Philippians 1:29-30; (written by Paul when he and Silas were in prison): “For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to be believers, but also to suffer for His sake, having the same conflict which you saw in me and now here is in me”.
Believers’ suffering is from God and brings eternal reward.
1 Peter 4:13; “….. rejoice to the extent the extent that you partake in Christ’s suffering”.
Matthew 5:10; “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake. For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”.
James 1:2; “…… count it all joy when you fall in to various trials.”.
Hebrews 2:10; “For it is fitting for Him (Yeshua) in bringing many sons to glory to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.”.
Loss of Reward
We have of course noted that these idlers were believers; they just lacked understanding. Salvation is by faith through grace. But reward is linked to good works for the Lord. We must hope that those idlers learned that lesson before they appeared at the Judgement Seat of Messiah.
1 Corinthians 3:12; “…..each one’s work will become clear: for the Day will reveal it because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. If anyone’s which he has built on endures, he will receive a reward.”.
“The day” referred to here of course refers to the Judgement Seat of Messiah.
“Revealed by fire” speaks of God’s discerning judgement.
“Reward” is not judgement for sin: Yeshua has paid the price for sin; no believer will be judged for sin.
The “Bema” seat (the platform where victorious athletes had their achievements proclaimed) is about determination of reward or loss thereof.
2 Corinthians 5:9; “Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be pleasing to Him. For we must all appear before the judgement seat of Christ, that each may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, good or bad.”.
To be “pleasing to Him” should be the highest goal for every believer. Every believer is inevitably and ultimately accountable to Messiah. The “judgement seat of Christ” is where the Lord will sit evaluating believer’s lives for the purpose of giving out eternal rewards. Every believer is responsible for the new life he has been given at the point of salvation (remember the parable of the talents in Matthew 25 14-28). Work and motives will be examined.
Conclusion
Romans 8:25; “But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance”.
Some in the churches seem to have lost focus on the return of Messiah. Others get involved in pointless speculation about exactly when He will return.
We should of course be eager and ready for His return like the wise virgins at the wedding feast. If the earnest hope of His return stirs up a wholehearted commitment to do good for His sake, we will be ready for Him.
We eagerly await His return. We just need to keep busy – waiting.
Amen.