16 March - Warn the Idle and Disruptive
“And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone. Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else.”
1 Thessalonians 5:14-15
Besides COVID-19, there is another major national health menace; another viral menace - dengue. It is an insidious disease, at least in this author’s experience. It comes via a little mosquito bite that you may not have realised, and then attacks you from within. Then, when you need to be drinking lots of fluids to manage and to recover from it, dengue makes you nauseous, severely hampering you in the very thing you need to be doing. Without medical attention, it can lead to death.
In stark contrast to yesterday’s passage, where Paul praises and commends those who work hard, Paul here urges the Thessalonian Church to warn those who are idle and disruptive. They seem to be a perennial problem, for they are also mentioned in 2 Thessalonians 3. They are able to work but choose not to. Instead, they depend on the welfare of the church.
Worse still, they disrupted the essential teaching of the gospel. The teaching of the gospel was crucial to this very young church because they were previously immersed in the pagan cults and beliefs of metropolitan Thessalonica, and presently faced significant opposition to their faith. So, the idlers and disruptors were hampering the church in the very thing they needed to be doing. In this way, the idlers and disruptors are like dengue. It is therefore right and important that Paul wrote to the Thessalonian Church to warn them.
In this Lenten season, as we reflect on the life of Jesus, we are reminded that Jesus himself admonished those who got in the way of his ministry - the Pharisees, yes, certainly; but also, Peter (Matthew 16:23) and even his own family (Mark 3:20-34). Such was Jesus’ focus and resolve in doing the Father’s will, even to the point of laying down his life on the cross. Therefore, let us be focussed, standing firm in the Lord as we carry out the will of the Father, and be careful not to be disruptive to the ministry of the church.
Finally, let us also “encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone. Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else” (vv.14-15).
PONDER
Have we been disruptive in any way to the ministry of our church? Have our teachings become more about self-help or feeling good, than the transforming power of the gospel? Our fellowship groups become more about catch-up and chit-chat, than encouraging one another in the faith?
PROMISE
Jesus said, “For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother” (Matt 12:50).
PRAYER
Heavenly Father, we thank you for the privilege of serving you and your church; and that you have shown us, through your Son, to be always devoted to carrying out your will. Help us, through your Spirit, to follow his example as we serve you faithfully, to the glory of your name.
Article by Mr Daniel Chai, a member of the Diocesan Standing Committee. He worships at St Paul’s Church, Petaling Jaya.