June 21, 2009 - Avoid Busybodies

Meditation on 2 Thessalonians 3

God's word teaches us how to deal with busybodies who are not busy. They like to put their noses into everything yet they do not like to take up any responsibility. (v. 11 NIV)

Christians should not be tired of doing what is right. (v. 12) Paul showed the Thessalonians that he earned his own living. So he gave the rule that, "if a man will not work, he shall not eat." (v. 10) Probably some folks there took advantage of Christian charity and eat the meal the church provided without paying or working frequently.

Besides instructing this kind of people, the Bible gives more idea on how to deal with them. That is to keep away from them. (v. 6) Anyone who does not follow the rule of the church, we should not associate with them. (v. 14) The purpose of this is to make him feel ashamed. "Yet do not regard him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother." (v. 15)

We seldom see this kind of discipline in the church today. Indeed there are lots of people who like to offer opinions and want to know everything that is happening in other people's lives in the name of knowing the prayer request. But they hardly pray for others nor do anything to help others. These are the kind of busybodies we need to deal with in many churches. Do we have the gut to follow Paul's advice?