成績單

A well-known Christian author was invited to join family and friends of martyred missionary Jim Elliott as they celebrated the legacy of his life. Both Jim and his wife Elizabeth left a legacy of faithfulness to Christ. Many people still hear of Jim Elliot’s martyrdom at the hands of native tribesman in the Amazon jungle of Ecuador. Jim and his four missionary companions were speared to death back in 1956.

This author was surprised to meet Jim Elliot’s older brother, Bert, and discover that he and his wife, Colleen, had served as missionaries in the Amazon jungle region of northern Peru. In fact, years before Jim Elliot went to the mission field, his older brother was already serving the Lord.

Not many people have heard of Bert and Colleen Elliot. Few know that they hiked the Andes Mountains, drove thousands of miles between villages, evangelized hundreds of Peruvians, and over the course of 60 years planted 147 churches!

Bert described his brother Jim as being like a great meteor, streaking through the sky for a brief moment. In contrast, the author described Bert as more like a faint star that simply rose night after night, faithfully crossing the same path in the sky, year after year, surrendered to the plan of God. Both men and their wives have left us quite a legacy.[1]

Beloved, you do not have to die as a martyr or serve on a remote mission field to leave a godly legacy. You can do that right in your own hometown—one day at a time.

As the apostle Paul brings his second letter to the Thessalonians to a close, he encourages them to leave a godly legacy—a testimony for Christ, right there in their hometown of Thessalonica. And he gives them encouragement and exhortation to stay the course for Christ.

Paul’s encouragement takes several forms. Here in 2 Thessalonians 2:13, he expresses his thanks to God for these believers. Then he writes that they are going to “obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ” (verse 14). That is a reference to the return of Christ, beginning with the rapture of the church, which Paul described in 1 Thessalonians chapter 4.

Next, Paul reminds them—and us, by the way—that if you want to leave a legacy, while you are waiting for the rapture of the church, this is what you need to do: “Stand firm and hold to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by our spoken word or by our letter” (verse 15). In other words, the apostles were leaving a legacy of the gospel truth, and disciples from that day to this are to leave a legacy of standing firmly with it.

Now as we set sail into chapter 3, Paul asks the Thessalonians to make sure they are praying for him as well. He writes in verse 1, “Pray for us, that the word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honored.”
You get the impression that Paul does not like sitting around for very long. Pray that the ministry will speed ahead. I love that kind of thinking and praying. That’s one of my favorite verses—though I probably apply it incorrectly in the way I drive. I am sure Paul had nothing to do with the way I drive my pickup truck.

Paul then offers another prayer for them in verse 5: “May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ.” He wants nothing more than for these believers to leave a legacy for Christ.

Paul then moves from encouragement to exhortation as he addresses another problem in the Thessalonian church. He puts it plainly here:

Now we command you, brothers . . . that you keep away from any brother who is walking in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us. (verse 6)

In his first letter, Paul had urged these believers to mind their own business and work with their hands (1 Thessalonians 4:11). But evidently, his words were being ignored by some in the church. So, now Paul writes again, and this time, he is a lot more forceful about correcting the idleness that is being tolerated among these Christians.

Paul tells them, “Keep away from any brother who is walking in idleness” (verse 6). Some of them were refusing to work and basically lived off the donations of others. This was not right at all, and it was a serious matter.

In verses 7-8 Paul reminds them of his own example among them and contrasts that with the laziness of some of these people:

For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we were not idle when we were with you, 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.

That is the right kind of example for every Christian, but it is even more impressive coming from Paul because, as an apostle, he had every right to be supported by the church. But that was not the legacy he wanted to leave them. So, he surrendered that right and worked to provide for his food and lodging.

Now, just in case they did not get the point, Paul puts it as forcefully and clearly as he can in verse 10: “If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat.” So, if the person is physically able to do so but refuses to work and support himself and his family, that person should not be rewarded for his laziness by the handouts of others.

This had evidently become a huge problem in this local church—to the point that it was potentially overshadowing their legacy of ministry faithfulness. Paul even writes, “For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies” (verse 11).

Why this was a problem here in the Thessalonian church is unknown; but it has always been a problem, not just in the world, but also in the church. We are living in a day when the work ethic Scripture teaches has greatly diminished. Very few people today have a reputation for being hard workers; and even in the church, volunteers are vastly outnumbered by people who just want to be served.  

This gives you a unique opportunity to show the church—and the world—what it looks like to be an honest, hardworking, faithful person. You become this unique testimony by showing up on time and putting in an honest day’s work.

Some people work hard at getting out of work. You might have a cubicle or a place in the shop next to some of them. Well, it is not your job to point a finger; your job is to simply work with diligence.

Paul writes here in verse 12, “[We] command and encourage [them] in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living.”

And if they do not? Paul says that they are in line to receive church discipline; they are to be removed from the assembly because they are harming the legacy of the church. He writes, “Take note of that person [that is, the person who will not work], and have nothing to do with him, that he may be ashamed” (verse 14).

We often think that the only valuable legacy worth talking about is somewhere out there in the jungles along the Amazon River. But you can leave a legacy for Christ right there in your hometown, as you work hard, serve the church, and demonstrate humility and steadfastness in whatever Jesus Christ has called you to do.