"Life is wasted if we do not grasp the glory of the cross, cherish it for the treasure that it is, and cleave to it as the highest price of every pleasure and the deepest comfort in every pain. What was once foolishness to us -- a crucified God -- must become our wisdom and our power, and our only boast in this world." ~ John Piper
In Second Thessalonians 3:10 Paul said, “For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: ‘The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat.’” Check out the context of 2 Thessalonians 3:6–15, which warns believers against idleness and laziness. The focus of the command is against those who refuse to work rather than those who are unable to do so.
The verses preceding the instruction to those unwilling to work relate a positive example: “You ought to follow our example. We were not idle when we were with you, nor did we eat anyone’s food without paying for it. On the contrary, we worked night and day, laboring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you. We did this, not because we do not have the right to such help, but in order to offer ourselves as a model for you to imitate” (2 Thessalonians 3:7–9). Paul and his companions did not come to the people of Thessalonica to take food or money from them but to share Christ with them. They were willing to work a side job to provide for their food.
1.) Deliver yourself (Proverbs 6:1–5). Bailout on sin and your own way. Do things God's way. Dead works, or wicked works (like choosing to be lazy or act selfish) can ensnare you (Prov. 5:22), but so will reckless words. You must be careful when you make promises. If you do not learn to say no, you will end up in bondage, and the price will be very high. Better to humble yourself and get free than to let your pride ruin you.
2.) Teach yourself (6–11). Observe, evaluate, study what's really so. Learn from the world of nature (Prov. 30:15–31). The ant makes good use of opportunities to prepare for the future, but the sluggard is aimless and lazy and ends up in poverty. The preacher who used this text was correct when he titled his sermon “Rock-A-Bye, Lullaby, Bye-Bye.”3.) Guard yourself (12–35). Watch your heart and mind. Watch out for the wicked man (vv. 12–19) and the evil woman (vv. 20–35). Hate what God hates and love what God loves and you will enjoy what God enjoys.
Choose to wait upon the Lord, and then to work hard in those works that he’s beforehand prepared for you to do, believer. Of course that's good, letting Jesus lead you as Lord without any rival. Not even you as your Lord.
No excuses of laziness or of any other kind. Zero excuses, Sport.
"For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance as our way of life." Ephesians 2:8-10"For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the law." Romans 3:28"He has saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works, but by His own purpose and by the grace He granted us in Christ Jesus before time began." 2 Timothy 1:9"He saved us, not by the righteous deeds we had done, but according to His mercy, through the washing of new birth and renewal by the Holy Spirit." Titus 3:5"Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.." Romans 3:20,27,28"For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God." Romans 4:2
“We are too often in haste to sin. Oh that we might be in a greater hurry to obey (Him).” ~ C.H. Spurgeon
I think that we all recognize intuitively that when God tells us to do something and we don't do it immediately, it seems to get harder and harder for us to start to do it.. like as we wait (I mean as we put it off. Procrastination causes obedience to be more difficult and painful. It can turns things into full disobedience.
When a sinner who hears the Gospel and casually says, "Mañana, or am Morgen (tomorrow) that's like saying 'Never, now give me a break.'"
"For He says: 'In an acceptable time I have heard you, and in the day of salvation I have helped you.' Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation." 2 Cor. 6:2 nkjv
I remember as a boy tying off my raft (we'd float 100 miles down to the Mexican border each year with 5 other rafts of kids), climbing up the east bank and hill and then jumping off the Blithe Bridge into the Colorado River (63 feet high) with my friends. Man, the longer I waited over the rail the harder the leap got for me. So I wouldn't even look down or pause at all. Big air, and splash, and then curve underwater!
Think about how it is when a lost hearer puts off the most important decision of their life (regarding thee Message)? Not to respond, is to respond. Not to turn and accept aka receive Christ by faith inside, is to say No to Him. Yes, it’s also a rejection of God the Father’s only Provision for our sin.. and listen, you know we’ve all blown it in different ways. Duh (Romans 3:23). BTW: None of that, no sin ever, has or will be allowed into His holy heaven. All people must be freely forgiven by Jesus.
When God gives you a clear directive, please don’t delay. It’s no time for waiting then. Pray as you go.. without ceasing ..through this time of acting in obedience.
That time between hearing His directive to you, and then taking steps of obedience really belongs to the devil so to speak says my pastor friends.
In fact I would add, your spiritual maturity believer is in direct correlation to the amount of time it takes you to hear His command, test it against what the Bible says so you don’t sin by presumption, and then go take action to do it.
It's been said, that time between hearing a command from God to me and acting to obey that command.. this time belongs to the devil.
Might sound strange, but there's a time to start acting in obedience and to cease cryin' out to God. A time to stop waitin' and with the Lord to start workin' through it. Some deeds can also become worship that actually glorifies the Lord (am not at all talkin' about becoming a workaholic in the ministry or job cuz that'd be idolatry. God first, spouse second, family third, His work for you forth).
The Bible says, "Is this not the word that we told you in Egypt, saying, 'Let us alone that we may serve the Egyptians'? For [it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than that we should die in the wilderness."
And Moses said to the people, "Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever.
"The LORD will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace."And the LORD said to Moses, "Why do you cry to Me? Tell the children of Israel to go forward."But lift up your rod, and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it. And the children of Israel shall go on dry [ground] through the midst of the sea."And I indeed will harden the hearts of the Egyptians, and they shall follow them. So I will gain honor over Pharaoh and over all his army, his chariots, and his horsemen."Then the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I have gained honor for Myself over Pharaoh, his chariots, and his horsemen."And the Angel of God, who went before the camp of Israel, moved and went behind them; and the pillar of cloud went from before them and stood behind them.So it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel. Thus it was a cloud and darkness [to the one], and it gave light by night [to the other], so that the one did not come near the other all that night.Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the LORD caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea into dry land, and the waters were divided.So the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea on the dry [ground], and the waters [were] a wall to them on their right hand and on their left.
And the Egyptians pursued and went after them into the midst of the sea, all Pharaoh's horses, his chariots, and his horsemen." Exod. 14:12-23 nkjv
