Paul speaks to a community of believers about individual responsibility (2 Thessalonians 3.6-13).
Context
With the impending General Election, the main political parties step up their campaigns.
Villages in Derbyshire struggle in the aftermath of flooding.
Bushfires continue to wreak havoc in Australia.
Protests in Hong Kong reach crisis point with the shooting of a student.
A Trussell Trust report reveals alarming levels of poverty in Britain.
Reflection
In today’s New Testament reading we hear Paul censuring those in this community of believers who chose not to work. It is clear from this letter that these individuals were not physically incapable of working (e.g. due to age or disability), but preferred to live off the generosity of others. And to compound matters, they used their ‘free’ time to gossip and be indolent. Paul urged them to follow his example and use their ‘hands to earn an honest crust’!
This particular passage of Scripture has been open to much interpretation, and for many years it was quoted by those of a certain political persuasion to reproach the unemployed. Those without employment were denounced as ‘work-shy’ or ‘shiftless’ – people who preferred to avail themselves of state benefits rather than find a job. Using the passage in this way, they were building on an existing narrative of the ‘deserving’ and ‘undeserving poor’ where the latter were regarded as idle people not worthy of our sympathy or financial support.
Although there is an impending General Election, it is interesting that no mainstream British political party has resorted to using this rhetoric. It can be argued that this language tends to be deployed by politicians when there is high unemployment, and rather than accept that they need to do more to help those without work, they argue that there are jobs aplenty and that the unemployed should work harder to find them!
Interestingly, although we invariably regard work as an antidote to poverty, often there is no correlation between the two. For instance, Britain is currently experiencing record levels of employment but there is still a great deal of (financial) need. The Trussell Trust, an anti-poverty charity founded on Christian principles, recently released a report that highlighted increased levels of foodbank usage, and noted that many of its clients were people in work.
There were no ‘state benefits’ in Paul’s time, but we do read about the help Christians gave their brothers and sisters in need in Acts 4.24, Acts 6.1-4 and Acts 20.35. Paul’s writings offer us a challenge: should our attitude toward those ‘in need’ be guided by compassion and a genuine interest in their welfare, rather than moving quickly to criticism borne out of a desire not to engage with the real reasons why some people are poor?
Prayer
Heavenly Father,
we give thanks for our wonderful world,
and consider how it reflects your handiwork and glory.
While we live in a world of abundance,
greed and selfishness often mean that many go without.
By the power of your Holy Spirit,
give us the will to work with those in need of justice,
and give us a heart for those in need,
that we may work to end poverty.
Let our desires and actions aim toward a world
in which all may experience the abundant life that Jesus offers.
This we ask in his precious name.
Amen.
Questions
- If we take Paul’s exhortation literally, does it mean that Christians should accept any form of employment rather than rely on state benefits or gifts from others?
- Who or what currently shapes our attitudes toward those without work?
All-age activity
Although we live in a wealthy country, there are many families (and communities) experiencing real poverty. The Trussell Trust is one of the leading organisations involved with the foodbank initiative, which works with those in financial need. Churches are often at the forefront of the foodbank scheme; find out how your church can become more involved in this important work via the Trussell Trust website.
Young people
In today’s New testament reading, Paul writes about the importance of self-reliance regarding work. Encourage people to discuss the issue of work in terms of their careers. For those who do not yet work, what will or might be their chosen profession and why? For those who do, how would they characterise job satisfaction?
Richard Reddie is the Director of Justice and Inclusion at Churches Together in Britain and Ireland. He worships at St James (Church of England), West Streatham in London.
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