Now we command you, brethren, in the Name of our
Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh
disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us. For yourselves know how ye ought to follow
us; for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you; Neither did we eat any
man’s bread for nought; but wrought with labour and travail night and day, that
we might not be chargeable to any of you: Not because we have not power, but to
make ourselves an ensample unto you to follow us. For even when we were with you, this we
commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat. For we hear that there are some which walk
among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies. Now them that are such we command and exhort
by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own
bread. But ye, brethren, be not weary in
well doing. And if any man obey not our
Word by this Epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may
be ashamed. Yet count him not as an
enemy, but admonish him as a brother.
Now the Lord of Peace Himself give you peace always by all means. The Lord be with you all. 2 Thessalonians, Chapter 3, verses 6-16.
Apostle Paul was talking about how the followers of
Jesus didn’t want to be beholding to anyone or to be perceived as taking
advantage of others. When they stayed
with people as they went around spreading the Word of God, they worked for
their food. Paul was saying that this is
the way it should be and those who didn’t work shouldn’t eat.
He was into “Reality Therapy”. Those Christians who didn’t work and let
others do all the work while they found time to be busybodies and visit,
shouldn’t be given food. He thought this
would motivate them to talk less and to work more, that is…if they planned on
eating.
He said that Christians shouldn’t hang around people
who were not obeying the Word of God.
Maybe this shame might motivate others to change their behavior, but
goes on to say that they shouldn’t treat that person like their enemy
either. They are doing these things to
help motivate the person to make changes in their behavior choices, in the same
way you might treat a brother who was going astray.
Because this is an example of how I’ve applied this Bible passage to my life, it doesn't necessarily reflect the whole meaning of the passage.
