In this chapter there are really two key things Paul is calling the Thessalonians to do: First is, “pray.” He wants these believers to lead genuine lives of faith, depending upon Jesus for their salvation, praying to God and trusting in Him in all circumstance. Second is, “work.” Paul is very blunt, “If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat.”
Pray and Work. Early Christians saw both of these as essential parts of our lives. They understood that we cannot separate spiritual life from physical life, nor physical from spiritual.
We are both spiritual and physical beings. This is how God created us. Our world is both spiritual and physical. He did not intend for these to ever be separated.
It’s interesting to observe people’s attitudes regarding what is spiritual and what is physical. During Medieval times people were firmly rooted in the physical part of life through their difficult work, but they were also highly superstitious. They saw the devil behind everything bad thing that happened, and suspected that witches and demons were all around. In our Modern times people tend to behave as if all there is, is the physical side of life. Everything else can be explained through science, negating any sense of the spiritual in our world.
The truth is in between the extremes. God created a world with physical principles that we have observed and quantified over the centuries. This is why a man like Isaac Newton could propose “Laws” of motion. The World has observable biological principles as well, and microbiology has opened up wide vistas to prove the Biblical statement, “we are fearfully and wonderfully made!” From physics (including mechanics, engineering and even things like music) to medicine (the discovery of DNA, antibiotics, and how to set bones) all science is possible because God made the world in a way that we can know it.
On the other hand, we are spiritual beings whom God created people with His Law written upon our hearts. That is how the Founding Fathers of the United States could say, “We hold these truths to be self evident. . . .” We live in a relationship with Almighty God. Indeed, we know that it is a relationship that was broken by our sin and rebellion, but restored in Jesus sacrificial death and glorious resurrection. Right and wrong exist as a reflection of God’s will for us and the ways that will has been twisted by the devil, the world and our sinful nature. So things like Law, Ethics, Morality and Justice are understandable and pursuable because God’s Word is True and He has revealed that Truth to us, and these things must be pursued because there truly are evil forces at work in our world that seek to destroy us. In fact, the redemption we have in Jesus urges us to strive in these areas of life to live up to God’s calling to “not grow weary of doing good.”
We are physical and spiritual beings. God calls us to pray and work. Let me encourage you to take a moment before you begin your next project to thank God for the ability to work. Pray for guidance. Then go about your work with joy, knowing that the Lord is with you.
Father in Heaven, thank you for creating this world in a way we can understand it. I have taken that for granted. Help me to marvel at Your creation, and help me to use the physical blessings you have given me to Your glory, praying and working day by day in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Pray and Work. Early Christians saw both of these as essential parts of our lives. They understood that we cannot separate spiritual life from physical life, nor physical from spiritual.
We are both spiritual and physical beings. This is how God created us. Our world is both spiritual and physical. He did not intend for these to ever be separated.
It’s interesting to observe people’s attitudes regarding what is spiritual and what is physical. During Medieval times people were firmly rooted in the physical part of life through their difficult work, but they were also highly superstitious. They saw the devil behind everything bad thing that happened, and suspected that witches and demons were all around. In our Modern times people tend to behave as if all there is, is the physical side of life. Everything else can be explained through science, negating any sense of the spiritual in our world.
The truth is in between the extremes. God created a world with physical principles that we have observed and quantified over the centuries. This is why a man like Isaac Newton could propose “Laws” of motion. The World has observable biological principles as well, and microbiology has opened up wide vistas to prove the Biblical statement, “we are fearfully and wonderfully made!” From physics (including mechanics, engineering and even things like music) to medicine (the discovery of DNA, antibiotics, and how to set bones) all science is possible because God made the world in a way that we can know it.
On the other hand, we are spiritual beings whom God created people with His Law written upon our hearts. That is how the Founding Fathers of the United States could say, “We hold these truths to be self evident. . . .” We live in a relationship with Almighty God. Indeed, we know that it is a relationship that was broken by our sin and rebellion, but restored in Jesus sacrificial death and glorious resurrection. Right and wrong exist as a reflection of God’s will for us and the ways that will has been twisted by the devil, the world and our sinful nature. So things like Law, Ethics, Morality and Justice are understandable and pursuable because God’s Word is True and He has revealed that Truth to us, and these things must be pursued because there truly are evil forces at work in our world that seek to destroy us. In fact, the redemption we have in Jesus urges us to strive in these areas of life to live up to God’s calling to “not grow weary of doing good.”
We are physical and spiritual beings. God calls us to pray and work. Let me encourage you to take a moment before you begin your next project to thank God for the ability to work. Pray for guidance. Then go about your work with joy, knowing that the Lord is with you.
Father in Heaven, thank you for creating this world in a way we can understand it. I have taken that for granted. Help me to marvel at Your creation, and help me to use the physical blessings you have given me to Your glory, praying and working day by day in Jesus’ name. Amen.
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