Let Him Who is Not Willing to Work Starve Then

2 Thessalonians 3:6-15

English Standard Version (ESV)

Warning Against Idleness

⁶ Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from any brother who is walking in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us. ⁷ For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we were not idle when we were with you,⁸ nor did we eat anyone's bread without paying for it, but with toil and labor we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you. ⁹ It was not because we do not have that right, but to give you in ourselves an example to imitate. ¹⁰ For even when we were with you, we would give you this command:If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat. ¹¹ For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, butbusybodies. ¹² Now such persons we command and encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living.^[a]
13 As for you, brothers, do not grow weary in doing good. ¹⁴ If anyone does not obey what we say in this letter, take note of that person, and have nothing to do with him, that he may be ashamed. ¹⁵  Do not regard him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother.

In 2 Thessalonians 3, Paul warns us about those who have become idle. These people were doing nothing to benefit their families or anyone, they were just plain lazy. Since we, as Christians, have received the gospel it is our responsibility to live accordingly to the gospel. We must make sure we don't become sluggish and fall to idleness. Paul even tells that if anyone among us is walking in idleness, we are to separate ourselves from them. 

Paul was traveling with Timothy and Silvanus, and he wanted the church of the Thessalonians to understand that while they were with them they were just living lavishly. They did not eat any meal without paying for it, but instead they worked hard day and night so they would not be a burden. They wanted to be good examples of how the people should act with each other. 

He goes on to say in verse 10, "If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat." There were men among them who were living in idleness, they would not do their own work but they would continuously meddle in the work of others. Paul calls says they are not busy, but they are busybodies. He encourages us to do their work quietly, without complaint, and earn their own living. 

So we cannot grow weary when we are the ones that are working diligently and quietly. We must remember that our reward is in heaven and not on this earth. We must not become hateful towards our brothers who are in idleness. We should cut them off and pray for them, but we should not consider them an enemy, but we should do so in a way to love our brother.