Troublemakers and Busybodies

2 Thessalonians 3:7-12 - Troublemakers and Busybodies

Even in a great church like the one at Thessalonica, there are troublemakers and busybodies – people who keep things stirred up by involving themselves in things that do not concern them. Apparently, some of these had turned this into more than just a hobby – it was a career. Full-time. With expected benefits. Keeping things stirred up took up so much of their time that they didn’t have jobs. Because they didn’t have jobs, they had no money with which to buy food. So they simply depended on the kindness of fellow church-members to take care of their needs, and I believe that even while they were partaking of their free food, they continued to practice their (un)spiritual gift of stirring things up (see. V. 12).

Paul’s solution? No work, no eat. Don’t misunderstand. Paul’s heart was huge. He was always concerned about the true needs of people. He encouraged Christian benevolence everywhere he went. But folks, we need to understand that we aren’t always helping by giving. Sometimes we are enabling people to be lazy, to continue to be troublemakers, or to indulge ungodly habits. So Paul’s solution was a good one. Take care of those who could not take care of themselves, and let those who can take care of themselves work for a living. This would take up more of their time and they wouldn't be able to keep things stirred up -- at least not as much as before.

Again, Paul used himself as an example. As a minister of the gospel, his financial needs should have been met by the church. Instead, he made tents to earn a living and to support his ministry so that no one could blame him of taking advantage of the church. No one could accuse him of using his position for selfish gain. He wanted, more than anything else, to show his fellow Christians how important it is to live out the calling of Christ with no strings attached.

It amazes me at how often this scenario plays out in churches today. Not many days go by when someone does not come along with a sad story. They say that they need help desperately. Some of these requests are valid. Many are not. It is so easy to become cynical and deny those requests outright because none of us wants to waste the limited resources we have. There are too many valid needs that can be verified to take the risk, but Paul reminded us of a very important truth: “Do not grow weary in doing good.” That is what we are called to do! But Paul also reminded us of another very important truth. If these professing Christians continue to cause trouble, don’t feed them and practice church discipline.