(a) Give an account of Paul's teaching on dignity of labour, in Thessalonians. (b) In what three ways does the church uphold the teaching today?

Answer Details

(a) Paul's teaching on the dignity of labour, in Thessalonians (1 Thessalonians 4:9-12; 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13).

1. Paul urged the Thessalonians to aspire to live quietly, to mind their own affairs, and to work with their own hands, as he had charged them.
2. He said this was so that they might command the respect of outsiders and be dependent on nobody.
3. He commanded them, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, to keep away from any brother who was living in idleness and not in accord with the tradition they had received from him.
4. He reminded them that they knew how they ought to imitate him and his companions, for they were not idle when they were with them.
5. He pointed out that he and his fellow workers did not eat anyone's bread without paying, but with toil and labour they worked night and day, so as not to be a burden to any of them.
6. He explained that this was not because he had no right to support, but to give them an example to imitate.
7. He recalled the rule he had given while with them: if anyone will not work, let him not eat.
8. He rebuked those who were living in idleness, not busy at work but busybodies (meddling in the affairs of others).
9. He commanded and exhorted such persons, in the Lord Jesus Christ, to do their work quietly and to earn their own living.
10. He encouraged the rest, saying that they should not grow weary in doing what is right.

(b) Three ways the church upholds the teaching today.

1. By teaching and preaching against idleness and encouraging members to engage in honest, productive work.
2. By establishing vocational and skills-acquisition centres to train members and youths in trades and crafts.
3. By setting up schools, farms, hospitals, printing presses and other enterprises that provide employment and useful service.
4. By showing charity to the genuinely needy while discouraging laziness and begging.