Thought for August 21, 2023

• 1831: Nat Turner, Baptist preacher, leads a rebellion
• 1858: First Lincoln-Douglas debate
• 1888: William Burroughs patents the adding machine
• 1911: "Mona Lisa" stolen from the Louvre; recovered in 1913
• 1942: The movie "Bambi" is released
• 1947: First Little League World Series
• 2012; Total eclipse seen in Nashville
• 2015: Three American Servicemen subdue Ayoub El Khazzani on a train from Amsterdam to Paris
• 1959: Hawaii becomes the 50th State
• Born: Count Basie, Jack Buck, Wilt Chamberlain, Kenny Rogers, Usain Bolt
• Died: Leon Trotsky, Ernest Thayer ["Casey at the Bat"], 

Thought:

Reading chapter 3 of 2 Thessalonians today. Our associate pastor, Matt Longworth, preached from this passage and passages in Proverbs back in July--his topic was laziness. My New American Standard warns to be aloof from those who are "unruly," but the Christian Standard Bible says from those who are "idle." Read verses 6-15 with me. Notice:

• 3:6--the command here is directed to Christians and those that are idle or unruly are called "brothers." Paul is addressing a problem in the church. Apparently, the 80-20 rule applied then as well--80% of the work done by 20% of the people. Can you imagine how powerful and productive the church would be if all of the people were working? The church would be four-five times as productive if every one participated fully. 
• 3:7-9--Calling on the church to look to him as an example, Paul says he worked day and night in spite of hardships so that he would not be a burden. I am looking at my life---am I working day and night overcoming hardships in the service of the Lord? 
• 3:10--what a concept. Paul says that when he was with the church at Thessalonica in person, he said if you do not work, you do not eat. No freeloading. I am certain that Paul made allowance for age or infirmity, but his message for the congregation was clear---I am part of the body and I need to do my job.  Yes, I need help and I need comforting and I need encouragement and I need ministry. But I also must encourage, comfort, minister, help.
• 3:11--When we are idle, we become busybodies. When I am not laboring for the Lord, I have plenty of time to complain; lots of time to critique how others are doing.
• 3:13--If you are in the 20%, don't grow weary doing good. When it seems that others are not carrying their load, doing their part, sharing the work---don't get bitter, don't get discouraged, don't let it make you tired or grumpy. 
• 3:15--If you are in the 20%, do not treat the 80% like enemies. Admonish in love. 

I wonder what the church was like in Thessalonica--probably just like the church I attend. Makes me wonder what Paul would say to me.

Blessings

Larry