KEEP AWAY FROM IDLE AND DISRUPTIVE PEOPLE

PROCLAMATION

“In the name of The Lord Jesus Christ, we command you, brothers and sisters, to keep away from every believer who is idle and disruptive and does not live according to the teaching you received from us.”  2 Thessalonians 3:6 (NIV)

 

EXPLANATION

These words were written by the apostle Paul, under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God, to the believers in the church at Thessalonica.  Paul begins this third and final chapter of this second letter by asking them to pray for him and his fellow laborers. (2 Thessalonians 3:1-2)  Then he offers a brief prayer for them. (2 Thessalonians 3:5)  Afterwards, he told them to keep away from every believer who is disorderly and who does not live according to the way that they have been taught.  He repeated this later in the letter and added that they were not to treat the disobedient one as an enemy, but to make them feel ashamed of their behavior and to warn them. (2 Thessalonians 3:14-15)  He also told them that if an idle brother is unwilling to work, then he should not be given food to eat. (2 Thessalonians 3:10)  He ended the letter with a brief prayerful benediction. (2 Thessalonians 3:16-18)

 

APPLICATION

We should be very careful regarding the company that we keep and the friends that we associate with.  “Birds of a feather will flock together.” (Author Unknown)  “Can two walk together, except they be agreed?” (Amos 3:3)  As believers we are to witness to the lost, but we are not to fraternize with them on their level.  If we cannot pull them up with The Word of God, then we should not let them pull us down into their sinful behavior.  If we cannot help them, it is better for us to avoid them.  We should also avoid those who claim to be believers but will not engage in any kingdom building activities.  God is not the author of confusion. (1 Corinthians 14:33)  So, believers should not the source of disruption in the church.  Our actions speak much louder than our words.