---

1. Paul found it expedient on many accounts to commend industry.

(1) The early Christians felt a most lively sense of the evidence and importance of Christianity, were greatly affected by its promises, and looked with indifference on a world from which they had little to expect but persecution. The zeal engendered by all this, however, had its dangers. A contempt for the world may be carried too far, and Paul was afraid it might be here, and lead to a widespread negligence of work and consequent ruin to many families.

(2) The apostles had assurances of support from Christ, and there was a danger lest Christians should apply them generally.

(3) The opinion of the nearness of the Second Advent led some to regard work as superfluous.

(4) The eminent liberality of the first believers was a temptation to dishonest and lazy men. Thus there was a danger lest the Church, instead of being a society of honest, busy men, should become a nest of drones.

2. St. Paul, therefore, recommended industry by precept and example. He had a strong claim to maintenance as an apostle of Christ, and especially to the Gentiles, and a very small sum would have been sufficient for a man who only required food and raiment. Yet he chose to waive this right, and laboured night and day rather than eat any man's bread for nought. Such a person, therefore, might well lay the stress he does here on labour; elsewhere he condemns what we should regard as carelessness or indolence, denial of the faith and infidelity. Consider this example as a precept of industry in —

I. OUR WORLDLY CALLINGS. This is necessary, because —

1. We came naked and destitute, both physically and mentally, into the world. But both body and soul are designed by God, the one to improve in understanding and the other to increase in strength. Thus, by the voice of nature, God teaches us to be improvable and industrious beings.

2. The Scriptures echo the voice of reason, and command and commend industry throughout.

3. God has made us dependent on others, and teaches us, by the voice of reason, that we ought in return to promote the welfare of others.

4. The Gospel commands us to do good — i.e., what an idle person has not the power or inclination to perform. He who is negligent of his own interests will hardly be serviceable to others.

5. Whosoever is slothful in business will be a slothful Christian, for the same temper disposes to both.

6. Idleness is the parent of vice. He who has some good end to pursue is too busy for temptation; but the idle, having nothing else to do, is tempted to yield. A vacant mind is a proper habitation for the devil. An idle person loathes his own company, and thus gets into worse, and, unless favoured by an extraordinary concurrence of circumstances, falls into want and thence into wickedness.

7. Of all bad dispositions, laziness is the most vexatious. The love of ease and pleasure produces idleness; yet such is the nature of things, idleness produces neither ease nor pleasure, but the reverse.

8. By industry we obtain credit and reputation.

9. By industry we shut out many fretting desires, sorrowful reflections, and turbulent passions.

10. By industry we become beneficial to others, and thereby secure many blessings for ourselves.

II. OUR RELIGIOUS AFFAIRS.

1. The shortness and uncertainty of life warn us not to neglect it, since upon our present behaviour depends our future state.

2. The reward before us excites us to it.

3. Gratitude to Him who has done so much for us moves us to do something for Him.

4. The punishment allotted to the idle and wicked servant calls us to it.

5. Our present interest invites us to it, bringing as it does peace of mind and the blessing of God upon our worldly affairs.

(J. Jortin, D. D.)

---

---

KJV: For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you;

WEB: For you know how you ought to imitate us. For we didn't behave ourselves rebelliously among you,