Live in Harmony with One Another

In 2 Thessalonians 3:6, Paul said, "But we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly and not according to the tradition which he received from us." Now Paul reinforces that command with these words: "For we hear that there are some who walk among you in a disorderly manner, not working at all, but are busybodies. Now those who are such we command and exhort through our Lord Jesus Christ that they work in quietness and eat their own bread" (vs. 11-12). In the Greek, the words "not working at all, but are busybodies" (v. 11b) is a play on words. Literally it means, "not busy, but busybodies."

What came to Paul's attention was that some not only refused to work, but they used their time to wander around and interfere in the lives of others in the church. He described this to Timothy in this way, "And besides they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house, and not only idle but also gossips and busybodies, saying things which they ought not" (1 Tim. 5:13). They became a burden to the church, creating disunity and discord in the process. These people were beginning to affect the loving harmony and effective witness of the church. Such are commanded to "work in quietness" (v. 12b) and to care for their own families. In this way, they would promote harmony in the church instead.

To them, and to all of us, Paul says to live in harmony with one another. Note verse 13: "But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary in doing good." The danger is that you might "grow weary in doing good" (v. 13b), or that you might become indifferent to real needs because of those in the church who have refused to work and have become a needless burden. Don't let that happen!

In Isaiah 58:7, God commends those who "divide [their] bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into the house." Let that describe you! Never become so weary of those who are a burden, that you forget those in real need. Work to provide for yourself and to care for those who are truly in need. In that way, you can and will live in harmony with one another. Amen.

Noah Found Grace

Just over one week ago, I returned home from visiting the Ark Encounter in Williamstown, Kentucky and the Creation Museum in Petersburg, Kentucky. Both are owned and operated by Ken Ham and Answers in Genesis. It was a worthwhile trip. Both are amazing to see and experience.

When you step inside the Ark, you soon understand how Noah could easily have room for all of the animals, as well the eight persons of his family. The Ark Encounter is an exact replica of Noah's Ark in Scripture, It was built to scale, based on the instructions God gave Noah in Genesis 6:13-16. Of course, the inside design of the Ark was not given in Genesis nor was the exact size and location of the door, so some creative license was taken in that regard.

Take note of what God said: "Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the LORD was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. So the LORD said, 'I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth, both man and beast, creeping thing and birds of the air, for I am sorry that I have made them.' But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD" (Gen. 6:5-8).

Going on, the Scripture says, "And behold, I Myself am bringing floodwaters on the earth, to destroy from under heaven all flesh in which is the breath of life; everything that is on the earth shall die. But I will establish My covenant with you; and you shall go into the ark—you, your sons, your wife, and your sons' wives with you. And of every living thing of all flesh you shall bring two of every sort into the ark, to keep them alive with you; they shall be male and female. Of the birds after their kind, of animals after their kind, and of every creeping thing of the earth after its kind, two of every kind will come to you to keep them alive. And you shall take for yourself of all food that is eaten, and you shall gather it to yourself; and it shall be food for you and for them" (Gen. 6:17-21). And we are told, "Thus Noah did; according to all that God commanded him, so he did" (v. 22).

The story in Genesis chapters six through nine tells it all. The story is incredible. It is easy to understand why so many people have a hard time believing. But when you visit the Ark Encounter and also check out the nearby Creation Museum, you will begin to understand what God can do. The Creation Museum explains the Biblical Creation worldview and compares it at every turn to the secular evolutionary worldview, placing the two views side by side as all the evidence is considered. In the end, the Biblical Creation worldview stands tall and is easily understood and believed.

It is all incredible to see. Make that trip your families next vacation. You will be glad you did. It is both educational and inspirational. Don't miss it. Amen.

Be Willing to Work

 "Be Willing to Work" may sound like a strange title and topic for a Bible Insight, but it is exactly what Paul wrote in 2 Thessalonians 3:10, where he said, "For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat." And it is very timely for today, as many people simply don't want to work. In many cities, the teacher's unions have the teachers refusing to return to the classroom, keeping schools closed, yet making sure that the teachers still get paid. Still others around this nation refuse to go back to work because the government pays them more in unemployment payments than they made at their jobs. It is a real problem.

Paul led up to this command in verse 10, by testifying of his own habit: "For you yourselves know how you ought to follow us, for we were not disorderly among you; nor did we eat anyone's bread free of charge, but worked with labor and toil night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, not because we do not have authority, but to make ourselves an example of how you should follow us" (vs. 7-9). Concerning the command, "If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat" (v. 10b), the emphasis is on those who are not willing to work—those who "will not work" (v. 10b).

The point is, if you get hungry enough, you will work so you can buy food. Proverbs 16:26 says, "A worker's appetite works for him, for his hunger urges him on" (NASB). If you have the opportunity and the ability to work for your own food, you are to do so. If you do not, then you are "worse than an unbeliever" (1 Tim. 5:8). The whole verse says, "But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever." Those who can work, must work. It is that simple. The key being—those who can. Amen.