(a) Give Paul's teaching on "dignity of labour" in Thessalonians. [11 marks] (b) What four lessons can be derived from this teaching? [4 marks].

Answer Details

(a) Paul's teaching on the dignity of labour (2 Thessalonians 3:6-15; cf. 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12):

• Paul commanded the believers, in the name of the Lord Jesus, to keep away from any brother who lives in idleness and does not follow the tradition of hard work that they received.
• He set before them his own example: he was never lazy while he was among them.
• He never accepted anyone's food without paying for it.
• He worked hard, day and night, so as not to be a burden to any of them.
• This he did even though he had the right to be supported by them.
• He deliberately made himself a model for them to imitate.
• He laid down the firm rule: "If anyone will not work, let him not eat."
• He had heard that some among them were living in idleness, mere busybodies, not busy at work.
• In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ he commanded such persons to work quietly and earn their own living.
• He urged the faithful not to grow weary in doing good.
• Anyone who refused to obey was to be noted and kept away from, so that he would be ashamed, yet he was to be warned as a brother and not treated as an enemy.
• In 1 Thessalonians he adds that they should aspire to live quietly, mind their own affairs and work with their hands, so as to depend on no one and command the respect of outsiders.

(b) Four lessons that can be derived from this teaching:

• Laziness and idleness are to be condemned; idleness brings shame and can lead to the downfall of the family, the church and the nation.
• Every person should be self-reliant and earn a living rather than become a parasite dependent on others.
• One should be proud of one's job, for no particular job is superior to another and all forms of honest work are complementary.
• Hard work is a Christian virtue that enables a person to help the needy; looking down on so-called menial jobs is unchristian.