In II Thessalonians 3:10-12 it says if we won’t work neither should we eat. I always feel bad because I can’t work anymore. My wife and I are disabled and I can hardly count all the diseases I have and move only in a powerchair. Should we turn down any request to eat at people’s houses or just not eat?<\/p>\n\t
“For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat. For we hear that there are some who walk among you in a disorderly manner, not working at all, but are busybodies. Now those who are such we command and exhort through our Lord Jesus Christ that they work in quietness and eat their own bread<\/em>” (II Thessalonians 3:10-12).<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Paul is discussing those who\u00a0will<\/em>\u00a0not work, not those who\u00a0cannot<\/em> work. The problem in Thessalonica was that people decided the return of the Lord was going to be very soon, so they stopped working altogether. Paul states that if people are determined not to work, then they should not be feed.<\/p>\n
While there are many people who are able to work, but rather use any excuse to avoid work, you make it clear that such isn’t true in your case. While there may not be a whole lot you can do, fill your time with doing productive things. Even sending out words of encouragement or going to sit with someone who is housebound for a few hours to keep them company are things that you can do to serve the Lord. The concern Paul had was that those choosing not to work end up filling their idle time with things that were sinful.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Question: In II Thessalonians 3:10-12 it says if we won’t work neither should we eat. I always feel bad because I can’t work anymore. My wife and I are disabled and I can hardly count all the diseases I have and move only in a powerchair. Should we turn down any request to eat at…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[20],"tags":[105,916,104],"class_list":["post-23941","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-answer","tag-employment","tag-handicapped","tag-work"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":16446,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/should-a-christian-eat-with-a-non-christian-who-is-having-alcohol-with-his-meal\/","url_meta":{"origin":23941,"position":0},"title":"Should a Christian eat with a non-Christian who is having alcohol with his meal?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"September 19, 2008","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: First, I want to thank you for explaining in\u00a0a previous response about\u00a0why social drinking is sinful.\u00a0 Now, I have for you a short scenario that\u2019s based on that fact. A Christian gets invited to go eat at a steakhouse by his non-Christian work buddy. While ordering his meal, this\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":2544,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/are-the-commands-to-work-directed-to-men-only-or-both-men-and-women\/","url_meta":{"origin":23941,"position":1},"title":"Are the commands to work directed to men only or both men and women?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"February 12, 2005","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: I have a question regarding the wording of I Timothy 5:8 and II Thessalonians 3:10: First, I Timothy 5:8: \"But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.\" In the context\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":583,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/are-christians-commanded-to-physically-labor\/","url_meta":{"origin":23941,"position":2},"title":"Are Christians commanded to physically labor?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"August 28, 2003","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: I know a Christian is required to work (I Thessalonians 4:11), but since it says \"laboring with your hands\" doesn't that mean only manual labor? Answer: There are several passages which command Christians to labor. Ephesians 4:28\u00a0\"Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":21661,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/should-christians-apply-for-unemployment-or-look-for-another-job\/","url_meta":{"origin":23941,"position":3},"title":"Should Christians apply for unemployment or look for another job?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"April 18, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Dear Sir, Should a Christian apply for unemployment if they are laid off from a job or just look for another job? Answer: Why is this an either-or question? Unemployment is offered so that a person can pay their bills\u00a0while looking for another job. The purpose of unemployment insurance\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":5931,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/what-does-it-mean-an-idle-mind-is-the-devils-workshop\/","url_meta":{"origin":23941,"position":4},"title":"What does it mean, “an idle mind is the devil’s workshop?”","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"June 9, 2006","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: What does it mean, \"an idle mind is the devil's workshop?\" Answer: There is a set of English proverbs that are worded similarly: Idle hands are the devil's workshop Idle hands are the devil's tools (\"Collections\" 1808) Idle brains are the devil's workhouses (T. Fuller 1732) An idle brain\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":54581,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/do-i-have-to-support-my-father-who-refuses-to-work-and-smokes-marijuana\/","url_meta":{"origin":23941,"position":5},"title":"Do I have to support my father, who refuses to work and smokes marijuana?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"November 13, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Hello, First of all, I love your site. I have spent many hours happily reading the archives of the questions asked, which has helped me. That's why I'm coming to you with this. 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