Tuesday, March 14, 2017

CREATIVE LOAFING

CREATIVE LOAFING

2 Thessalonians 3:6-15    In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command you, brothers, to keep away from every brother who is idle and does not live according to the teaching your received from us.


            There are all kinds of magazines published today. If you don’t believe me, visit a book store and see for yourself. Sports, leisure, hobbies, romance, movie stars and rock idols, magazines for seniors, baby boomers and children, history, science, collecting, dolls and more can be found. There is one titled “Creative Loafing”. Can you imagine having to learn how to creatively loaf. Idleness is a fool’s activity. Unfortunately our culture provides ample opportunities to loaf, calling it recreation, rest, fan participation and more. Our culture has more time and money spent on leisure activities than all the countries in the world combined. God’s people are in jeopardy of falling into the surrounding culture of idleness if we are not diligent.

            Paul addresses this very issue in his letter to the church at Thessalonica. Because of the dire importance of the sin of idleness he reminds us in "the name of the Lord Jesus Christ" to stress the danger. As a people called to a specific mission of glorifying God and providing salt and light to the world, we cannot afford to loaf. Paul says that those who remain idle are to be denied the privilege of associating with their fellow Christians. "Idle" in the Greek translates from a word meaning "disorderly". Paul is speaking about loafing, not being diligent in doing our daily work and having a slothful conduct. There is no excuse for living the Christian life in such a manner. In fact, such a life is not Christian at all. The danger of such people in the Christian fellowship is so serious that Paul advocates such drastic action as keeping away from the "idle."


Prayer:     Lord, forgive us the lack of self-discipline to remain strong in such a self-entertaining culture. Help us to read your Word, pray and fellowship in your name that our lives would reflect our love for you in Christian service and not a desire for the things of the world.




Jericho Road Ministries Chapel, by Rev. Bruce W. Gimbel, 2007.

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