Pentecost 26 – “Do Not Grow Weary” (2 Thessalonians 3:6-13)
[/mp_heading] [/mp_span_inner] [/mp_row_inner] [mp_row_inner] [mp_span_inner col=”12″] [mp_code]Grace, mercy, and peace to you from God our Father, and from our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, amen. The text for the sermon is the Epistle, which was read earlier.
Do you consider yourself to be a “goody two-shoes?” Maybe you were called that growing up, defining you as a good person who never did anything wrong. It implies that you only do good, that you never do anything wrong or anything that goes against the norm. Thessalonica was not a city of “goody two-shoes,” but that didn’t stop Paul from encouraging them: “As for you, brothers, do not grow weary in doing good.”
Because of troubles caused by the preaching of the Gospel in Philippi, Paul and Silas traveled to Thessalonica. The short time spent there was enough for the seed of the Gospel to grow into a strong congregation. Following their departure of Thessalonica, Paul received uplifting news from the Thessalonians on progress in their Christian life, but he also heard of their hardships because of the faith and their worries about the fate of those who had died before the second coming of Jesus. To ease their discomforts and strengthen their faith, Paul writes to them what we know as 1 Thessalonians, encouraging them to stay firm in their faith, to continue to abound in love to one another, and to be ready and take comfort in the imminent return of Jesus. He also clarifies that those who “sleep in the Lord” will rise first when Jesus comes.
Things seemed to be going well for this congregation, with the occasional bump in the road. What a feeling to know that the Gospel was at work among these people, even in the midst of false teaching that was going on, that the vast majority remained faithful to the teachings of Paul and Silas and were growing in their faith. For Paul, what more could you ask for? That’s what every pastor wants to see taking place in a congregation. However, things would not remain like this for long.
Just weeks later, Paul received news that all was not as well as he was led to believe. Unfortunately, Paul was busy elsewhere proclaiming the Gospel and couldn’t return to Thessalonica to help this congregation out. Instead, Paul does the next best thing and writes 2 Thessalonians. What could have happened to cause such problems within the congregation? The problems lay with the false teaching of Christ’s return. As we looked at last week, there was the false teaching that Christ was coming again and it was going to be any day now, and so Paul writes, “For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies.” This false teaching of Christ’s return prompted some to quit work, to stop producing for their own needs and of the community. They now had time to interfere with others.
For the Thessalonians, they needed to keep their eyes focused on the teaching of Paul, the teaching of Jesus Christ. Those who were “walking in idleness” were a detriment to the Thessalonians and their faith. These idle Christians had been taught what was wrong with their actions. They had been warned that to continue in such a way of life was living in sin. They could not plead ignorance of their sin. Since they refused to repent, the congregation had to take the next step and exclude them from the family of God. This separation was to be done in love, as a warning to an erring brother about the seriousness of sin. The motive, to demonstrate true brotherly love for another person’s soul, is important. For even this sin of idleness, which may seem insignificant in many people’s eyes, can endanger a person’s soul if left unchecked.
We are not to be idle, because that is contrary to Christ’s will. While Paul is talking about not being idle in our vocations, whatever they might be, he is speaking more of our idleness when it comes to watching and preparing for the coming of Jesus Christ. While there was the teaching that Christ would come again, they did not get the timing right. They were preparing for Christ’s second coming as if it were happening today. They disregarded their earthly vocations and in turn, caused problems within the community in both secular and spiritual ways.
Christ will indeed come again. However, we do not know when His second coming will be. That does not mean that we are not to prepare for His return. Our Lord tells us to watch and be ready for His second coming. That is the emphasis that Paul places upon the Thessalonians and that is the emphasis that is placed upon the Church today, especially as we come to the close of another Church Year with eager anticipation for Christ’s second coming, as well as preparing our hearts to remember His first coming and what that means for us. We see salvation work out for us from birth to resurrection.
In spite of what the Thessalonians faced from the idleness of some, they were to remain steadfast in the faith. In spite of what the Church faces today, we continue to persevere, continue to look to the cross, look to Jesus for our salvation. We see salvation as it worked out for us by Jesus. We bear witness to what Christ has done and do not neglect our vocation as witnesses of Christ. Some in Thessalonica became complacent in their faith because of the false teaching and it threatened their salvation. The very same can happen to us as we become complacent in our faith, expressing that we don’t need to attend church because we’re already forgiven. If we use that thinking, then we are saying that we don’t need Jesus anymore because He already forgave our sins once.
For the Church, she must remain faithful. Paul encourages us to “not grow weary in doing good.” His words are not just mere words meant to make the Church feel good about herself. They are an evangelical encouragement, based on the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. He says to us not to envy those who are idle. They are sinning, and that will only harm them in the long run. Rather remember Jesus and the love He has for you. Remember how Jesus was willing to serve you, how He died for you in order to forgive you all your sins. The Church is not made of busy bodies but of bodies who are busy with the work of the Lord. We are busy with receiving the gifts that He brings to us in Word and Sacrament. In Jesus’ name, amen. Now the peace of God that passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds through faith in Christ Jesus, amen.
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