Sermon Tone Analysis

In each of Paul’s letters to the Thessalonians, Paul addresses the problem of Idleness.

(1 Thessalonians 5:14 and 2 Thessalonians 3:6-15) However, because this is Thanksgiving weekend, I want to address the topic of idleness from the standpoint of thanksgiving—idleness is such a serious sin because it robs us of the opportunity to Be Thanksgiving.

Before I read our main text this morning, I would like to read from two other texts that lay the foundation for our main text.

The first of these foundational texts 2 Thessalonians 3:10-12:

Notice that God has ordained work as the means by which we are “to earn [our] own living.”

The second of these foundational texts is Ephesians 4:28:

This text teaches us that God does not intend for us to provide only for our daily needs, but for the needs of others truly in need.

Biblically, this would include those who are in a temporary crisis (such as a natural disaster) and those who are unable to provide for themselves because of age or disability.

With these two purposes of work before us: To earn a living and to give generously, we are now we are ready for our main text, 2 Corinthians 9:6-15:

The key verse in this text is verse 10:

In this verse Paul speaks of our labor as “seed” that produces both our "bread for food” and a “harvest of righteous”.

Moreover, it is God who supplies both the seed and the harvest.

In other words, ultimately it is God who deserves all the praise and thanksgiving.

Consequently, by diligent labor and generous giving we Become Thanksgiving!

The first place we Become Thanksgiving is in our Labor:

Your Labor Produces Thanksgiving to God

As we have already noted, our ability to labor is a gift of God.

God doesn’t need us, but in love He desired to share Himself with us, consequently, He created us in His image.

In John 5:17, Jesus teaches us that God is a working God.

As image-bears, we are created with the ability to work and create.

We thrive when we are producing, creating and giving.

Idleness is a great evil because it destroys the human spirit and character.

President Franklin D. Roosevelt understood this biblical truth, he said, “The lessons of history show conclusively that continued dependency upon relief induces a spiritual and moral disintegration fundamentally destructive to the national fiber.”

Sin is like a virus, where there is one sin—many more will follow.

Paul is concerned about those who are idle in the Thessalonians church, because he knows a whole host of other sins will follow in idleness’ wake.

This is why we as Christians must do everything we can to battle the sin of idleness, beginning with our own labor.

When we work diligently, our text says that God receives glory and thanksgiving.

God receives glory first because our labor reflects God character—He is a diligent laborer.

Secondly, because He has given us the strength and ability to labor productively.

Even labor the world considers lowly, can result in praise and thanksgiving going to God.

For example, Paul writes:

So Be Thanksgiving by laboring diligently “as unto the Lord.”

If you do so, God promises not only to provide for your “daily bread,” but also to provide for you a “harvest of righteousness” through your generous giving.

Your Generosity Produces Thanksgiving to God

Twice in our text, we are promised that our generosity will result in thanksgiving going to God, first:

And then:

There is a very important reason giving is called “charity” in the English language.

The word charity is an example of how the Bible has shaped our English language.

Charity is another word of love.

True generosity must be giving willingly and with a cheerful, loving heart:

This is why Paul reminded the Corinthians that giving should be regular and planned:

Paul is drawing from the wisdom and example of the Old Testament tithe.

Under the Old Covenant, the ministry of the Temple and the Levites was supported by the tithe.

Under the tithe, 10% of everything produced was given over to the Lord.

The tithe was proportional giving, the poor would give less and the rich would give more, but everyone gave 10%.

Notice that Paul instructs each person to give “as he may prosper.”

This shows he had the concept of proportional giving in mind.

Some have argued that the tithe is not directly taught in the New Testament.

That is true, but proportionate giving is.

You should never give “under compulsion, but cheerfully.”

Therefore, I don’t want to pressure anyone into “guilt-giving,” but I will give you this promise: Set aside the percentage of your income you can give cheerfully to the Lord each week.

Give this amount each and every week.

I am confident that if you will do this, you will discover in time that the Lord will work in your life is such a way that you can give 10%, if not more cheerfully!

How can I be so sure of this, because the promise is not mine, but God’s!

I want to close by reminding you of how your regular and planned giving is producing thanksgiving to God right here at Greene Valley PCA.

This past Monday, the Elders voted to send $2000 in aid to help one of our sister PCA congregations in Paradise, CA.

Every member of this congregation lost their home, as well as their place of worship!

Can you imagine the praise and thanksgiving that that congregation will give to God as this check and many other come pouring in all across the PCA!

I also want you to notice also that next Sunday we will be welcoming three new adult members into our congregation and baptizing one child.

We often think the only part of our budget that is “mission” is under the mission section.

But think of this, would these individuals be joining this church if we did not maintain our building and pay our utilities?

Of course not!

In fact, it was the faithful giving of God’s people that played a role in the conversion of each and every one of us.

Paying utility bill does not sound like “Kingdom work,” but it is.

We are all living proof!

So on this Thanksgiving weekend; do not just give Thanksgiving, but Be Thanksgiving through your diligent labor and your faithful giving.

Let us pray.