Question concerning 2 Thessalonians 3:10?

Question

Here is the verse:

2 Thessalonians 3:10
For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: "If a man will not work, he shall not eat."

If I'm not mistaken....in this context, Paul had to re-write to the believers at Thessalonica concerning some who were simply quitting their jobs, giving away all they had.....going up onto their rooftops and expecting the Lord to return at any moment. Basically, he had to scold them for this incorrect thinking and tell them to get back to work....or you don't eat.

So within this mind set, my question is this:

Do you think retirement is Biblical? Obviously, people get old and simply cannot work anymore. But what about wealthy young people? Is someone who does not work going against a Biblical mandate?

All are welcome to answer......believer & non-believer.

Answer 1

I think this is like when Paul was talking to the Corinthian church about women speaking in church, a specific need for a specific church.....

Retirement....depends on your definition of retirement. Moses never "retired" nor did "Paul". I think retirement may be stopping doing one thing (that the world sees as a job.) but we are never told we can stop living the great commission. I admire Smith Wigglesworth who was an evangelist in the early 19th Century. To his dying day, if he saw someone who needed Jesus, he preached to them or prayed with him....even after he "retired" from traveling all over the world. He would sit where he could see the train station and saw hurting people and ministered to them.

Jesus said it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of the needle than a rich man to enter heaven. You could get a camel through the "eye of the needle" but it had to go through it on it's knees....maybe symbolic of the need for the "rich" to work for God's kingdom rather than their own wealth.

Paul also talks about working out our salvation with fear and trembling.....Not that Jesus doesn't save....He does....but we have to work at living the way He desires us to.....and not eating.....what about not being able to eat at the Marriage supper of the Lamb, if we're not working for HIM?

Answer 2

Paul was not really criticizing people for just not working - but, rather, for not working AND "sponging" off the church for their food.

The verses before and the verse following, 2 Thes 3:11, give the context.

Paul recognized that 1) laziness is not a fruit of godliness. (Plenty of scriptures in Proverbs about "sluggards" he would have been familar with!) And 2) if at all possible, one should not be a burden to church. He counseled the same way about widows in the church to Timothy (1 timothy 4): Let those who have the means or who have the family not be a burden on the church. Then the church can care the widows who are truly alone.

Paul set the example by working hard, never burdening the church with his needs.

Many people today are busier and more productive in retirement than they are before retirement! Any many who are wealthy use their time in productive ways - although they do not hold a traditional job.

One minister told me that "there is no retirement plan in God's government". In other words, we can and should ALWAYS
be busy doing the Lord's work. But that does not mean always holding a traditional job, etc.

But, again, Paul's real focus was unburdening the church from its busybodies and lazy bone sluggards who expected the church to supply their daily bread.

god bless

Answer 3

I have always took this verse to mean "laziness" like there are some people I know who will not keep a job, and try to come up with some excuse why they cannot work- but they live with family so they are taken care of-- they mooch off of family members. And of course the man, the head of the household should be working! I have always thought this to mean do not support this type of person ( feed them, clothe them, whatever) I mean someone who is truly just lazy and is trying to live off of everyone else. (But thanks for reminding me of the context in which Paul wrote it!)

I have never once thought of retirement being unbiblical. There are many jobs that certain aged people just cannot do anymore. I mean sometimes age causes problems physically.
I think if they worked long and hard, and saved up enough money for the future ( thinking responsibly) they have no problem retiring. But then again there are many circumstances when someone does actually come down with some type of ailment, and it physically keeps them from working, that is when family should help I think. I mean if this is a serious condition.

But what a good question!

Answer 4

If you read the scriptures before hand (3:6-9) it shows the correct context.

It is talking about general laziness , and paying ones own way as the right course of action.
It is part of being honest and being an upright citizen with nothing to be ashamed of before God.

There is nothing to suggest that them not working was because they were waiting for the return of Christ.

Verses 11 and 12 clarify the point.
It says that they should eat the food from money that they earned.

In regards to retirement , usually you save for that time , so in a real sense you will then be living off the money your had previously earnt.

I worked hard when I was young and retired (at 25) for 15 years , and now when funds got a little low ,I took a part time job.

A true Christian will not sponge off others or beg for food.
On the other hand if they are sick or for some reason unable to stand on their own feet, then it is acceptable for others to assist them during this period.

For more Bible based information please feel free to email me.

Answer 5

I can no longer work because of physical limitations. I have several disabilities. Anyone can look at me and see that I would have problems, yet I have had this Bible verse quoted to me on occasion.I have people who think that I could work if I wanted to. I would love to work again, I have good days and bad days, tonight is a bad night. I cannot sleep, I hurt, I am in pain. It would be impossible for me to go to work tomorrow actually it is 1:20 A.M. so it is tomorrow. I think that sometimes people can be cruel and just don't understand that people get old and need to retire, their bodies just can't do the work any longer. The signs of aging take it's toll. I am not yet 60 but I can relate to seniors. My body can't do the things it used to do when I was healthier and could work. I have worked in my time and I am not just living off the government, like I have been accused of. People have no idea what another is going through sense they are not in the others shoes.

Answer 6

Well, it really depends on WHAT you do when you retire. Obviously, in those days, there were wealthy believers that did not have to work very hard. However, WHAT they did with their time and funds was another matter. Jesus told a parable regarding an accountant who was being fired. To prepare for the inevitable, he forgave half the debts of his master's creditors. Basically, he prepared for what was coming with what authority and ability he had today.
A good example of such stewardship was Theophilus. A wealthy man who, most probably, sponsored the education and housing of the physician Luke. It is also considered that Theophilus commissioned Luke to write his gospel.

If I had enough money to retire, I would use my time either in mission work, or missionary support. I would probably go to work for Mission Aviation Alliance which is located here where I live. I may even learn to fly while I worked there.

There were many wealthy people that donated money to help those that were starving in Jerusalem. Today, this is again an opportunity with the Joshua Fund which also includes surrounding lands in need. http://www.joshuafund.net

So the trick is to go ahead and retire, but ask the Lord how best to work soley for Him at this, ones twilight years.

Answer 7

I'm 66 and still working and enjoying it. I am also retired.

Actually, I'd be fine with it if the Lord returned tonight. I'm not sin-free, but I believe I am forgiven. I have worked most of my life, raised kids, been a good husband and father and am a practicing Christian.

I don't know if retirement is Biblical, but if you go all the way back in the Old Testament to the last days of David you will note that he had become very feeble in his last years. He was unable to keep himself warm--he slept between two girls who basically provided the body heat needed to keep him moderately healthy.

Many other Old Testament characters lived to be very old. Some remained active all their lives. Others, such as Isaac, lost their eyesight (possibly diabetes?) or became hard of hearing. I think they remained active as long as it was practical and became less active as they grew older and less able to be active.

I think I am healthier working and remaining active. So I will continue it as long as I can.

I think the comment by Paul was directed at people who simply sat down and did nothing and waited for God to come rescue them.

That's not retirement.

Answer 8

Good question.

I think you can surmise your answer from the parable that Jesus gave recorded in Luke 12:16-21, and from Ephesians 4:28.

Work is not just for the self, to fulfill our own needs.

Also consider the OT. God set the retirement age for temple workers at 50.

Numbers 8:25-26 -- and at the age of fifty years they must cease performing this work, and shall work no more. They may minister with their brethren in the tabernacle of meeting, to attend to needs, but they themselves shall do no work.

God does not have a problem with retirement; he knows that as we age our strengths wane. But that does not mean we should sit around doing nothing or putting golf balls and getting under the wife's feet -- just not do the things that are physically demanding for a body that can't meet those demands any more. In other words, we retire from hard labor, not from usefulness.

Basically, the rich should work for the betterment of humanity, and the old should retire for specific duties, not from useful work.

Answer 9

wow, that's a great question.

it made me think of the story of the ant and the grasshopper. in short, the ant worked all summer and had stores of food for the winter. the grasshopper just played and had nothing by winter and was starving. (until the ant shared with him if i recall)

by the winter of a person's life (retirement) they should be able to live off of their stores like the ant, if they've worked hard throughout their lives.

as far as young wealthy people retiring, well i've always said there's a difference between working hard and working smart. working smart includes working hard but seems to have a bigger payoff than "just" hard work, and i don't see a moral problem with benefitting from that. besides, most people who are wealthy seem to give time and money to those who need it, so in a sense, they're still working, only now they're not getting paid for it.

edit: just on a side note, what if the husband and wife both retire by the time their 30ish and that's when they start a family. they're able to be home with them full time, and nobody can say that raising a family is NOT work.

i don't think we should judge somebody's work on whether they get paid for it or not.

edit: even if people are on welfare, in canada, it's called workfare, because you have to be actively seeking a job and submit proof of that, or you need to find volunteer work. you have to be working to receive it, which again i find nothing morally wrong with it, as long as your using it as a hand up in life and not a crutch

Answer 10

Do i think retirement is biblical? Not sure whether people "retired" back then...I'm pretty sure the verse was meant to be taken in the literal sense as if you dont work you dont make money and therefore you dont eat. As far as wealthy young people the same is true for them except they already have money so they are like a special case. I dont think anyone who does not work is going agains what the bible says. If you want a preacher to answer your question try asking it a www.askgod.cc my church just started that site to try and answer some questions that we all have about God. Hope i helped :)