Warning!

Today’s Bible Reading:  1 Kings 1; 1 Chronicles 28; Psalm 91; 1 Thessalonians 5

Topic: Idleness

SCRIPTURE:  1 Thessalonians 5:14

And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone. (1 Thess 5:14 NIV)

OBSERVATION:

In context the Apostle Paul has just been speaking about the coming “Day of the Lord” (v. 2) that will come suddenly (v. 3), but that Christian believers should be alert and prepared for the Lord’s coming (v. 6). Then in verse 14, speaking to believers, he says to “warn those who are idle.” The timid are to be encouraged; the frail are to be helped; but the idle are to be warned. The implication may be that as Christians we should always be active in our relationship with the Lord, never allowing our kinship with Him to become stagnant or our spirits to become atrophied.   

APPLICATION:                                        

Idleness can lead to sleepiness, spiritually speaking. The Day of the Lord—that is the second coming of Christ—apparently brings with it death and destruction on the Earth. To unbelievers this is the ultimate suffering of wrath and judgment. To believers, such destruction means ultimate salvation. The admonition here to believers, however, seems to be a stern warning that falling into lethargy and idleness may result in not recognizing and thus missing the Lord’s coming.

PRAYER:

Lord, may I ever be busy obeying Your calling upon my life. May I meet “the Day” with expectation and joy rather than with fear and uncertainty.

Through Christ. Amen.  –AP