• Tell us about your first job outside your home.

• What lessons did you learn about the world of work and the world outside your home?

Colossians 3:23-24 (NASB)

23 Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve.

• How does the mindset of “working for the Lord” allow us to rise above the frustrations of our jobs?

• How does the mindset of “working for the Lord” impact your attitude toward responsibilities in the Lord’s church?

2 Thessalonians 3:6-13

In the first century, many Christians believed that Jesus would return for them in their lifetime. The only problem with this is that some decided to stop working at their jobs or planting their gardens. They were so “heavenly minded that they were no earthly good.” The apostle Paul dwelt with this problem by giving a strong command to the people of God regarding work.

2 Thessalonians 3:6-13 (NLT)

6 And now, dear brothers and sisters, we give you this command in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ: Stay away from all believers who live idle lives and don’t follow the tradition they received from us. 7 For you know that you ought to imitate us. We were not idle when we were with you. 8 We never accepted food from anyone without paying for it. We worked hard day and night so we would not be a burden to any of you. 9 We certainly had the right to ask you to feed us, but we wanted to give you an example to follow. 10 Even while we were with you, we gave you this command: “Those unwilling to work will not get to eat.”

11 Yet we hear that some of you are living idle lives, refusing to work and meddling in other people’s business. 12 We command such people and urge them in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and work to earn their own living. 13 As for the rest of you, dear brothers and sisters, never get tired of doing good.

• In this passage, what is written in the form of a command?

• How do you feel about “earning your own living”?

• In what ways do the commands and the satisfaction of earning our own living enable us to “never tire of doing good”?