WORKING AND EATING

“If anyone is not willing to work, then he is not to eat, either.” (2 Thessalonians 3:10) These familiar words of the apostle Paul that encourage us to be willing to work if we expect to eat are interesting in that the first part of the verse the apostle says this is an “order” or “command” or “rule” as it is translated. I think this means it is not optional.

This verse requires that one must be willing to work for the necessities of life. But I find the principle is true in many other areas. For example: study of scripture, prayer, meditation, contemplation, journaling, reading, knowledge…if we don’t work at it we won’t get the food and fruit of it.

Just because we live in a grace covenant does not mean that everything “pertaining to life and godliness” is just going to come floating and oozing into our being on a cloud as free gifts from God. The grace is free but the effort takes energy and action and diligence. We have to work for it if we plan to eat it. We labor for what we eat.

 “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work.” Jesus