Brother Busybody

2 Thess. 3:1-18

The Apostle Peter is noted for saying that some of the Apostle Paul’s writings are hard to understand.[1] The subject of the man of lawlessness from last week’s sermon is one of the passages of Scripture which fits Peter’s description. However, the subject matter in the third chapter is much easier to understand and apply. We had already established that some of the Thessalonians had been duped into believing the day of the Lord had already come.[2] One of the problems that resulted from this was what Paul describes in great detail in the final chapter of the second letter. Something that he had alluded to briefly in the first letter,[3] Paul describes those identified as busybodies among the Thessalonians. Our text comes from 2 Thessalonians 3:1-18. As we examine this final lesson in this series, let’s make sure that we are not identified as Brother Busybody.

Their Example

As Paul gets into the bulk of this discussion, he lets the Thessalonians know that he and his companions gave them an example to follow. They worked to support themselves while among the Thessalonians and didn’t burden them.[4]Those Thessalonians who were guilty of the charges brought against them should have followed this example. Paul and his companions had not acted in an undisciplined manner because they worked to support themselves.[5] They had a right to be supported, but they chose not to exercise it so that they could be a model for the Thessalonians.[6] Paul elsewhere said to the Corinthian church: “So also the Lord directed those who proclaim the gospel to get their living from the gospel.”[7] When Paul was among the Corinthians and Thessalonians, he rather chose to support himself by his trade of tent-making so as not to be a burden.[8]

Their Earful

Word had gotten back to Paul about what was going on in Thessalonica, as he says “...we hear that some among you are leading an undisciplined life...”[9]  Remember that he sent Timothy to visit the church there when he couldn’t stand it any longer.[10] It’s highly possible that Timothy was the informer for Paul, however it could also be someone else who came to give him this report.[11] However he got word of it, he was dealing with it in this letter. He got an earful of what was going on, and he wanted to make sure they knew he had heard about it. Paul describes that he heard they were unruly, undisciplined, not working and acting as busybodies.

Unruly and undisciplined are both words used as a military term meaning to act disorderly, as in a soldier stepping out of rank.[12] When Paul talks about them not working, evidently some had resorted to loafing. These would have been people who were able to work, but for the reasons mentioned earlier had chosen to refrain from it. Instead of being busy at work, they were being busybodies. These people are meddlers who get into other people’s business instead of minding their own.[13] I’ve mentioned the quote before from Scooby-Doo where the villain says “and I would have gotten away with it if it weren’t for those meddling kids.”

Their Exhortation

Paul addressed such fellows who were guilty of being busybodies with some instructions to follow. He said “...such persons we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ to work in quiet fashion and eat their own bread”.[14] Because of their busybody behavior, Paul made sure they knew what was needed in this situation. They were not to be moochers; rather they were to provide for themselves. It was their responsibility, not the responsibility of those who were providing bread for them. Paul also addressed the other church members about their responsibility toward those who were in error here. He said they were to keep aloof from them and do not associate with them. This is evidently tied to church discipline. He told them to take note of that man. If you’ve ever heard of someone being a marked man, that seems to be the idea. He also said for them to admonish that person as a brother instead of treating him as an enemy. The goal was not to beat the person down, but rather to get him to see the error of his ways.

What are some lessons for us?

Don’t be a moocher

We should not enable these types of people by helping them and providing for them. Just as Paul said, “eat your own bread”.[15] This doesn’t mean we can’t allow someone to buy us a meal from time to time or eat at someone’s house, but it does mean we shouldn’t be sponging off others in a habitual sense. The only thing you should be mooching is some smooching.

Work to support yourself

We have the responsibility to provide for our own selves and households, not to rely on others. Granted there are people who are unable to work because of physical and mental reasons. But to have the ability to work and refuse in unbiblical. Just as Paul said, “if anyone will not work, neither let him eat”.[16] Paul and his companions provided the example to the Thessalonians.

Idle hands are...

You remember the phrase idle hands are the devil’s workshop. We are well aware of what the idleness of the Thessalonians led to, and we need to take note of that. The only thing that we need to have idling is our car motor. Paul elsewhere told Timothy what idleness could lead to with younger widows when he said “...as they go around from house to house; and not merely idle, but also gossips and busybodies, talking about things not proper to mention”.[17]

Keep your body busy, but don’t be a busybody

I mentioned in a previous sermon what Peter says: “By no means let any of you suffer as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or troublesome meddler”.[18] A busybody stays busy sticking their nose into someone else’s business instead of their own. Hank Williams sang about minding your own business. Nobody likes a meddler, especially God. Let’s stay busy with the things that need tending to concerning God’s kingdom. If we will stay busy with the proper things, we won't be identified as "Brother Busybody!"

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[1] 2 Peter 3:15-16

[2] 2 Thessalonians 2:2

[3] 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12

[4] 2 Thessalonians 3:7-8

[5] 2 Thessalonians 3:7

[6] 2 Thessalonians 3:9

[7] 1 Corinthians 9:14

[8] 2 Corinthians 11:9

[9] 2 Thessalonians 3:11

[10] 1 Thessalonians 3:2

[11] Earl D. Edwards, 1 & 2 Thessalonians (Searcy: Resource, 2008) 334.

[12] http://www.biblestudytools.com/lexicons/greek/nas/atakteo.html

[13] Earl D. Edwards, 1 & 2 Thessalonians (Searcy: Resource, 2008) 334.

[14] 2 Thessalonians 3:12

[15] 2 Thessalonians 3:12

[16] 2 Thessalonians 3:10

[17] 1 Timothy 5:13

[18] 1 Peter 4:15