Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Home
Catholic
Paul Did Not Want Us To Be Idle

Paul Did Not Want Us To Be Idle

Last updated on: April 21, 2020 at 3:22 am by Henry Karlson

Paul Did Not Want Us To Be Idle 2020-04-21T03:22:51-05:00 Henry Karlson

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Mathias Grünewald / St Paul: Detail /Wikimedia Commons

Sometimes, when told that God expects Christians to take care of the poor, someone will reply with an out-of-context quote from St Paul, saying, “If any one will not work, let him not eat.” They think that with that one verse they can ignore the demands for social justice found in Scripture. If questioned about their lack of concern for their poor neighbor, they will blame any such poverty on the laziness of the poor, excusing themselves from their responsibility for the common good. This does not stop them from claiming to be faithful Christians, indeed, among the most faithful Christians in the world today. They are like the scribes which Jesus called out in his day::

And in his teaching he said, “Beware of the scribes, who like to go about in long robes, and to have salutations in the market places and the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at feasts, who devour widows’ houses and for a pretense make long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation” (Mk. 12:38-40 RSV).

Not only does Scripture consistently promote social justice, it tells us to place the poor and needy at the forefront of our actions. Excuses which are used to ignore the plight of the poor, especially those which suggest the poor deserve whatever suffering they experience in life are not only rejected by Scripture, they are condemned by it. “He who gives to the poor will not want, but he who hides his eyes will get many a curse” (Prov. 28:27 RSV). The poor will be with us to the end of time. That means, we are also to take care of them until the end: “For the poor will never cease out of the land; therefore I command you, You shall open wide your hand to your brother, to the needy and to the poor, in the land” (Deut. 15:11 RSV).

It is not by saying, “Lord, Lord” do we show our love Christ, but by what we do. If we love him, we will keep his commandments and take care of the poor and needy. Otherwise, our words prove meaningless. We will find ourselves distant from God because of our lack of love, as St. Hildegard warns:

He Who knows all things says: See to it that you do not love God in a den of thieves [cf. Matt 21.13] by calling on Him amid your vanities and by invoking Him with words but not with deeds. I will respond to the person who speaks to Me with earnest words, but I keep Myself distant from those who speak to Me in rote phrases. [1]

Even if we should follow some virtue, like celibacy, or remain virgins, such virtue is meaningless if we do not have the love of God in us. Abstaining from what is permitted, acting like we are spiritually superior for doing, while ignoring our responsibility to others, demonstrates how far we are from the way of Christ. St. Salvian, commenting upon this, expressed horror at the way some have used the external appearance of religion for the sake of injustice:

This is certainly a new kind of conversion. They do not do what is lawful, and they commit acts against the law. They abstain from lawful sexual intercourse, but not from plunder. What are you doing in your foolish delusions? God forbade sin, not marriage. Your deeds do not agree with your inclinations. You should not be the friends of crime, you who call yourselves strivers after virtue. [2]

Portraying ourselves as Christians without listening to and following, the dictates of love shows us how far we really are from Christ. If we try to use Scripture against itself by decrying social justice, we show either we have failed to understand Scripture and the Christian faith, or we were not interested in it in the first place.

What, then, did Paul mean? What was the context of his words? Paul was critical of those who were needlessly idle, using their idleness to get in the way of his ministry:

Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from any brother who is living in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us. For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us; we were not idle when we were with you, we did not eat any one’s bread without paying, but with toil and labor we worked night and day, that we might not burden any of you. It was not because we have not that right, but to give you in our conduct an example to imitate. For even when we were with you, we gave you this command: If any one will not work, let him not eat. For we hear that some of you are living in idleness, mere busybodies, not doing any work. Now such persons we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work in quietness and to earn their own living. Brethren, do not be weary in well-doing (2 Thess. 3:6-13 RSV).

Notice, Paul himself said he had the right to be fed without the need to do further work than preaching the Gospel. This is in accord with what he said to the Corinthians:

This is my defense to those who would examine me. Do we not have the right to our food and drink? Do we not have the right to be accompanied by a wife, as the other apostles and the brothers of the Lord and Cephas? Or is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to refrain from working for a living? Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard without eating any of its fruit? Who tends a flock without getting some of the milk? Do I say this on human authority? Does not the law say the same? For it is written in the law of Moses, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it is treading out the grain.” Is it for oxen that God is concerned? Does he not speak entirely for our sake? It was written for our sake, because the plowman should plow in hope and the thresher thresh in hope of a share in the crop. If we have sown spiritual good among you, is it too much if we reap your material benefits? (1Cor. 9:3-11 RSV).

Paul, therefore, affirms that those who work for the Gospel can (and sometimes must) accept material support from those who have it. But on the other hand, Paul also did not want to remain idle. He thought it important for all of us to be active. That was his main intent: he knew inactivity, idleness, created a listless spirit which can and will get us in trouble. Sloth is spiritual idleness. We risk becoming slothful if we let ourselves become idle. This does not mean everyone needs to do the same kind of activity. Not everyone needs to do work in the sense that everyone must have a job in the labor market in order to eat. Clearly, if Paul meant that, women and children, as well as cripples and others devasted by the effects of plague and famine who had no such job, would be seen as those who should not eat. This wasn’t Paul’s desire. He wasn’t telling us to let innocent people starve to death. He was talking to a specific group of idle men who were causing problems in the community that they should find a better way of dealing with their idleness.

Once we understand that there was a context to Paul’s words, that he was being critical of those using idleness to be busybodies, then we must be astute and realize that the kind of work and labor market available in Paul’s time differed from what is available to us today. And, in the future, there will be an even greater difference between the two. Work was, in some ways, far easier to get, and so it was a way to avoid being idle and to avoid the temptations which came from such idleness. This is no longer the case. Those who are unable to get work should not be judged and condemned to die of hunger. This is especially important for us to realize now before the job market gets worse in the future. Technology is replacing labor. Not everyone will be able to get a job. Should they be forced to perish because there is no work for them? No. Nor do they have to sit around being idle. There are many things people can do, once they realize the labor market has been closed off to them. The Christian tradition has long recognized this. Recluses living in monasteries were not idle, though they certainly did not fit in with the labor market. Their life of penance and prayer was their work, and it was often far more excruciating than the labor which makes the rich, richer. Likewise, then, people can be productive, doing things in the community, helping people around them. They might not make money, but they certainly are being productive with their time. Likewise, people can take the time they have to study, to write, to produce art, to contemplate, to do all kinds of things which keeps them active. The point is not to be idle, not to force people into useless, soul-destroying labor.

The social-economic situation of Paul allowed for people to find simple labor jobs, because technology did not replace it, and so such work was a way to overcome idleness and the temptations which come out of being idle. That is why Paul wanted them to work, not because he glorified work and thought it was necessary that people labored long and hard in a job in order to be worthy of food, but because he thought people needed to be actively engaging something productive in their lives. Paul would not say people who cannot get work, people who cannot find a job, are lazy and should be condemned with hunger. Far from it, Paul affirmed social justice and Christian charity towards the needy, even if they are our enemy (cf. Rom. 12:20).

Christians, therefore, must be careful and not follow the dictates of avarice which suggest only those who have money deserve to live. For, even if people might now have the means of making money, over time, less and less will be given that opportunity. We need to find new activities for people to do so they do not remain idle while they also do not fit in the classical labor market. It’s possible. The resources not only are there to supply everyone what they need without problem, technological advances allow the creation of many secondary goods which likewise can be easily distributed without the need for most people to work.

We must be careful and not excuse idleness, but we must also not excuse burdening people with impossibilities. We must look at the time and place which we live in, see the changes taking place in society, and work to make sure those changes do not create more needless suffering. So long as the production of goods remains greater than the needs of the people who live, the universal distribution of good must not be frustrated by misapplying Paul’s words about work. Those who cannot find a job must be shown human dignity. It is time to make sure we take care of each other. For if we do not do so now, we will find a far more hellish future ahead for all because we have rejected the demands of justice and supported the tyranny of the ultra-rich who find all kinds of excuses to justify their wealth and the nihilistic destruction of those who do not have any.

[1] St. Hildegard of Bingen, “Letter 343” in The Letters of Hildegard of Bingen. Volume III. Trans. Joseph L Baird and Radd K Ehrman (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2004), 134.

[2] Salvian the Presbyter, “The Governance of God” in The Writings of Salvian the Presbyter. Trans. Jeremiah F. O’Sullivan (Washington, DC: CUA Press, 1962), 148.

Stay in touch! Like A Little Bit of Nothing on Facebook.
If you liked what you read, please consider sharing it with your friends and family!

Previous Post

April 19, 2020

Thomas Sunday, Doubling the Resurrection

Next Post

April 22, 2020 We Should Acknowledge The Plight Of The People While Rejecting The Protests Against The Governors

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Abortion Abraham abuse Aesthetics AI Aliens Ambrose Ancestors and Everything Andrew Angels Animals Anne Anthony Antisemitism apologetics Apophatic Apostle John Aquinas Artificial Intelligence Asanga Ascension Asceticism Assumption Atheism Attachment Augustine Authority Avarice Balthasar Baptism Beauty Biden birthright citizenship Bishops Black History Books Buddhism Bulgakov Byzantine Calendar C.S. Lewis Calcidius Catholic Catholicism Catholicism Celibacy Charity Chastity children Chrismation Christ Christmas Christology Church Climate Change Common Good Communion Confession Confirmation Conscience Constantine conventions conversion councils Covid Creation Cross Dead Death Death Penalty Debate Deception Demagogues Demons Desert Monks Desert Mothers Desire destruction development Dialogue Dignity Dionsyius Dionysius Discipline Diversity Division Doctor Who doctrine dogma Dormition Dualism Easter Easter Series Ecumenical Councils Ecumenism Education Election Empathy Environment Error Eschatology eschaton Eternity Ethics Eucharist Evangelism Eve Evil evolution Faeries Faith Fear femininity Ficino Florence Florensky Folktale Fools Forgiveness Freedom Future gender Gentile Gentiles Glory Gnostic God gods Good Samaritan Goodness Gospel Government Grace Great Fast Guns Hate healing Health Heaven Hell Hellenism Heresy Hierarchy Hildegard Hinduism History Holiness Holy Spirit Holy Week Hope Horror Human rights humanity Humility hypocrisy ICE icon icons Identification Identity Idol II Nicea Immigration incarnation Individualism Informal Reflections Inklings Intention Inter-Religious Interfaith Internet Interpretation Intrinsic evil Irenaeus Islam Israel Jacob Jerome Jesus Jews John Chrysostom John of Damascus John the Baptist Joseph Judaism justice Justification kenosis Kindnesss Kingdom of God Kingdom of Heaven Law Law of Moses Lazarus Leaf by Niggle Lent Lenten Reflection Liberation Theology Lies Life Listen Literature Liturgy locutions Logic Logos Love Marriage Martyrs Mary Mass Maximos The Confessor Meanness Meditation Mercy Middle Path Migrants Mind Miracles Miriam Morals Moses Movies Music Muslims Myths Names Nationalism Native Americans New Year Nicea Nicholas Nothing Novatian Obedience Occam's Razor Ordination Origen Original Sin Orthodox orthopraxis Pagans Palamas Palm Sunday Paradise Paschaltide Paul Peace Pentecost person Peter piety PKD Plato pluralism Plurality Poem Poetry Poiltics Politics Poor Pope Pope Francis Pope Leo XIV Post Office Prayer Pride Pro-life Prodigal Son propaganda Prophecy Prophets Providence Putin Racism Reading Reason Reflection Refugees Relationships Religion Religion Series Religious Liberty Repent Republicans Rest Resurrection Rich Rites Russia Sacraments Saints Salvation Salvian Santa Science Scripture Self-Giving Sexuality Sibyl Sick Silence Sin Singlehood Social Justice Society Sodom Solovyov Speculations Spiritual Reflection St. Cyril of Alexandria St. Justin Martyr Suffering Sunday of the Paralytic Man Sunday of the Samaritan Woman Superhero Supreme Court Teaching Technology Thanksgiving The Father the Universe Theological Reflection Theology Theosis Theotokos Thomas Timaeus Time Tolerenace Tolkien Tradition Transfiguration Trinity Trump Truth Uncategorized Unity Universities USCCB Value Vatican II Vegetarian Vices Violence Virtue Vocations War Water Welcome Wisdom Womanhood Women Work World View Worship Writing Zacchaeus

Select a Month October 2026 September 2026 August 2026 July 2026 June 2026 May 2026 April 2026 March 2026 February 2026 January 2026 December 2025 November 2025 October 2025 September 2025 August 2025 July 2025 June 2025 May 2025 April 2025 March 2025 February 2025 January 2025 December 2024 November 2024 October 2024 September 2024 August 2024 July 2024 June 2024 May 2024 April 2024 March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 December 2023 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 July 2023 June 2023 May 2023 April 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz