Beyond Sunday: Work Hard

[Editor's note: Beyond Sunday is a Monday refresher to carry you through the week.]

Focus Verse of the Week

"For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat." 2 Thessalonians 2:10

Classic Commentary

It is not enough for any to say they do no hurt; for it is required of all persons that they do good in the places and relations in which Providence has placed them. It is probable that these persons had a notion concerning the near approach of the coming of Christ, which served them for a pretence to leave off the work of their callings, and live in idleness.

It is a great error, or abuse of religion, to make it a cloak for idleness or any other sin. If we were sure that the day of judgment were ever so near, we must, notwithstanding, do the work of the day in its day, that when our Lord comes he may find us doing. The servant who waits for the coming of his Lord aright must be working as his Lord has commanded, that all may be ready when he comes.

It may be, these disorderly persons pretended that the liberty wherewith Christ had made them free discharged them from the services and business of their particular callings and employments in the world. Whereas, they were to abide in the same calling wherein they were called of God, and therein abide with God, 1 Corinthians 1:20, 1 Corinthians 1:24 .

Industry in our particular callings as men is a duty required of us by our general calling as Christians. 

~ adapted from Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible (Complete)

A Thought to Keep

When you work, are you aware of the Lord's presence with you? He is the one who commands us to work hard as part of our general calling as Christians.