Freeloaders

 This week's verses are 2 Thessalonians 3:6-12:

But we command you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to keep away from any brother who lives an undisciplined life and not according to the tradition they received from us. For you know yourselves how you must imitate us, because we did not behave without discipline among you, and we did not eat anyone’s food without paying. Instead, in toil and drudgery we worked night and day in order not to burden any of you. It was not because we do not have that right, but to give ourselves as an example for you to imitate. For even when we were with you, we used to give you this command: “If anyone is not willing to work, neither should he eat.” For we hear that some among you are living an undisciplined life, not doing their own work but meddling in the work of others. Now such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to work quietly and so provide their own food to eat.

 Paul is writing to the church about being a team player. When he talks about being undisciplined, he's not talking about being disorganized. He's talking about people who take and never give.

Because of the charity that was available from the early church, people would show up and help themselves to it, but wouldn't contribute anything back. Paul isn't talking about people in genuine need of charity, but about those who, despite having the ability to provide for themselves, have decided instead to collect free stuff.

The example Paul lives is the opposite of that. Even though he could be justified in collecting a church salary for his apostolic work, he refuses it because he has the ability to pay his own expenses through his business. If you were a minister, would you give up a church salary? Would you take a second job to pay your living expenses so that the church could use its money to take care of the needs of those who really can't provide for themselves? That seems extreme to say the least.

Paul worked night and day to serve the community he was part of. He wasn't just there to be served. He modeled that lifestyle in order to show that it could be done, and to make it clear that he was there on pure motives. God's work wasn't his business or some money-making scheme. God's work was his calling.

His rule for the church community was "If anyone is not willing to work, neither should he eat." If someone was unable to work, that was a different thing. Unwillingness was the problem. Just as negativity kills creativity, selfishness kills charity.

A selfish person not only doesn't contribute to the well-being of others, but they actually cost their community something because of the wasted charity. And people who might otherwise have been generous may instead keep their money if they see that it is being spent on freeloaders instead of the needy. 

And what is worse is that the needy person is hurt twice by this selfishness, first because the money that would have helped them is taken out of their mouth and used to fatten the freeloaders instead, and then a second time because of the money that is no longer given at all because of the church's reputation for freeloading.

Paul tells us to shun freeloaders. If we encounter someone who is working the system, not only are we to not feed their selfishness, but we should even distance ourselves from them until they repent. Harsh! But which behavior is more Christlike: toiling night and day so that others can have what they need, or coercing others into serving you so that you can live an easier life at their expense?

Paul also tells us not to be freeloaders. If you're part of a Christian community, you probably know already whether you are one or not. Do you benefit from your community but never give anything back? I'm not talking just about money but about time and service. When is the last time you made a sacrifice for someone other than yourself?

Everyone wants to hear a nice message or listen to some uplifting music or have someone to listen to their problems, but nobody wants to stay late to listen to others' problems or help carry boxes or pay for coffee. But can you truly be part of the body of Christ if you only take while holding back for yourself what you might otherwise have shared? How can we say that we have imitated Jesus if we never work for each other as servants?

If you're not part of any community, maybe this won't change your life in any way, but if you are, take a moment to assess your part in that community. Does Paul's advice speak to you? Is there someone who isn't doing their part? Could that someone be you?