Work With Your Hands

1 Thessalonians 4:10-12 - And in fact, you do love all the brothers throughout Macedonia. Yet we urge you, brothers, to do so more and more. Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.

Ephesians 4:28 - He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need.

2 Thessalonians 3:10-11 - For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: "If a man will not work, he shall not eat." We hear that some among you are idle. They are not busy; they are busybodies.

Conclusions:

• It is not enough to cease from sin; one must do good
• The former thief must now help those in need
• Pagan parallels to 2 Thessalonians 3:10 are in the form, “He who does not work does not eat.”
• Paul gives an imperative, “Let him not eat”, if he does not work
• The Christian must not be a loafer
• Busybodies are worse than idle; they interfere with other people’s affairs, a problem to which idleness often leads

Application:

• Do you help those in need?
• Are you a loafer?
• Do you interfere with other people's affairs?

All Scripture verses from NIV

Conclusions derived from NIV Study Bible