While We Wait

WHILE WE WAIT Spring Valley Mennonite; March 27, 2022; 1 Thessalonians 4:9-12; Luke 19:11-27; 1 John 3:13-18 "On October 22, 1844, as many as 100,000 Christians gathered on hillsides, in meeting places and in meadows. They were breathlessly and joyously expecting the return of their Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. The crowds had assembled because of the prophetic claim of an upstate New York farmer and Baptist layman named William Miller (1782-1849). He was certain from his studies of the Bible that Jesus Christ was going to return on that day. "The prophesied return date had arrived. The waiting crowds, gathered at various places, mainly throughout the Northeast United States, peered expectantly upward as the hours slipped away. Anxiety grew as nightfall descended. Then the midnight hour tolled and still Christ had not returned. People became ever more restless. Through the wee hours of darkness, the dejected and stunned crowds began to disperse. When the daylight of Oct. 23 arrived, it was clear that Christ was not going to return as expected."1 Historians call this "The Great Disappointment." People had sold businesses, homes and possessions because they believed such things were no longer needed. Obviously, Miller was wrong, and there followed dark days as Miller's followers had to pick up the pieces of their lives. Scripture repeatedly warns against setting dates, the Lord Jesus stating, "But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone." The date-setting in 1844 by the Millerites was but one example in a long line of many attempting to predict the Lord's return. I saw one list of 45 prominent religious figures who set such dates, beginning in the New Testament period. Obviously, all have been wrong. There was a problem in the Thessalonian church which Paul addresses in the verses we cover today. These verses relate to the issue of Christ's return. Paul had clearly taught the truth that Jesus could return at any time. Seemingly, some of these believers got so excited about the Lord's return that they concluded that working was pointless since Jesus was going to come any moment. This reminds me of the Millerites of the 1840's. We see this problem stated in 2 Thessalonians 3:11: "For we hear that some among you are leading an undisciplined life, doing no work at all, but acting like busybodies." In Luke 19, Jesus was on His way to Jerusalem where He would be crucified. His disciples, resigned to this dangerous trip, wondered if Jesus was risking the danger because He was going to establish His earthly kingdom at this time. Jesus gave them a parable which spoke to the issue. Turn to Luke 19:11 (Read through verse 27.) The amount of money given to each of the 10 servants was identical, representing the equal opportunities for service given to each one. Most did well, investing and using his resources wisely. One servant failed to use his gift and was judged. Like the nobleman, whose return was unknown, Jesus is telling us that since we don't know when He will return, we are to carry on with our responsibilities, knowing we will be called to account for our God-given opportunities. We are, as Jesus stated in verse 13, "Do business with this until I come back." Turn to our text in 1 Thessalonians 4:8-12 (Read) Knowing that God expects us to "occupy until He comes" Paul gives us four practical things to do while we wait: to love each other more, to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your hands. First, we are to: I. LOVE EACH OTHER MORE This is the second time in this letter that Paul speaks of loving one another. Chapter 3, verse 12: "And may the Lord cause you to increase and abound in love for one another..." He now follows with this second encouragement to love our brothers and sisters in Christ. We know that these believers were suffering for their faith and needed the support and help from one another. There are many stories out of the Ukraine these days of churches becoming places of sanctuary from the war. Believers are sending aid to the refugees, now numbered around 31/2 million. Groups like Samaritan's Purse are present helping those displaced by the war, and Christians within the country are having opportunities to "love one another." Paul states that this motivation to love comes from God. God teaches us by example, as Romans 5:8 states, "But God demonstrates His own love for us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." And in 1 John 4:10 we read, "In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins." (Propitiation means satisfaction-Jesus' sacrifice satisfied or made total payment for our sins.) The book of First John is filled with instruction about practical love for the brethren. In the context of the world's opposition, John writes, beginning in 3:13-Let's turn there and read-(read through verse 18.) God prospers us so we can help others. And like Paul's words back in 1 Thessalonians 4:10, I have little need to teach you here at Spring Valley to be generous. But we can always "excel still more." God promises in 2 Corinthians 9:10, "Now He who gives seed to the sower and bread for food, will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness; you will be enriched in everything for all liberality, which through us is producing thanksgiving to God." The second instruction about living while we wait for Christ's return is to: II. LEAD A QUIET LIFE It is to be our ambition to "lead a quiet life." Two almost contradictory terms are used here: to be ambitious, zealous and eagerly striving and the term to be silent, peaceful and tranquil. So we are to be "ambitiously peaceful and tranquil!" This points out the tension between being eager to sharing the gospel and being careful and tactful not to unnecessarily stir up opposition. I think of the fine line believers in China must observe in sharing Christ. While there is certainly a place for boldness, there is also a time to speak and a time to be silent. There is an inner peace that is ours to claim knowing that we are secure in Christ. We have that peace that passes understanding, and that peace in the midst of problems and trials is a powerful witness in itself. As we weather the storms of life in the power of the Spirit, people may ask, "How do you remain so calm?" This gives opportunity to share the reason for our hope. "To lead a quiet life" is not giving the right to be inactive or for avoiding responsibility, but as we wait for Jesus to return, we are to live lives of peace and quietness. I think the opposite would be those who draw attention to themselves, striving to place themselves above others. They would be the ones who boast of their accomplishments trying to always top others. They are the prideful, not the humble. They certainly do not consider others more important than themselves as scripture instructs. While we wait, we also are to: III. ATTEND TO OUR OWN BUSINESS In the second letter to this church, Paul notes that those who are waiting for the return of Jesus have given up work and have become "busybodies." This is a word meaning "wasting their labor." In this time of waiting for Jesus to return we are to concentrate on our own lives, take care of our own responsibilities, and not meddle in the affairs of others. 2 Thessalonians 3:11-12: "For we hear that some among you are leading an undisciplined life, doing no work at all, but acting like busybodies. Now such persons we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ to work in quiet fashion and eat their own bread." Perhaps the old saying, "idle hands are the devil's workshop" came from this passage. If a person is not concentrating on his own life, it is a temptation to become involved in the problems and affairs of others. A word we use is "nosey" always poking their nose into someone's business. Often such people are eager to share what they have learned about others, and in the telling, often the story gets distorted or changed. Very often we find warnings in scripture about gossip. It is a fine line between being genuinely concerned about others, desiring to help bear their burdens, and idle curiosity. Here is a good definition of gossip: it is sharing someone's problem with someone else who is not a part of the solution. Even sharing something as a prayer request can be gossip if you don't have permission to pass it on. If you hear about a problem second-hand, don't pass it on, but pray about it. We are to mind our own business! The fourth directive for living while we wait is to: IV. WORK WITH YOUR OWN HANDS In the Greek and Roman culture manual labor was viewed as something best left to servants and slaves. Apparently, many of the believers in this church were of the "working class," either slaves or craftsmen. There was the issue of some thinking that, being free in Christ, slaves no longer had the obligation to work for their masters. This had the added issue that now such people were dependent on others to provide for their needs as they waited for Jesus to return any day. To these Paul wrote in his second Thessalonian letter, "He who does not work, does not eat." There is a strong secondary lesson for us today in this admonition: Perhaps Paul, who worked with his hands as a tentmaker, was pointing out that the Christian is often called to be counter-cultural. Whereas the Greek and Roman culture deemed manual labor only suitable for servants or slaves, God's standard is that such labor is noble, as is all work. A life devoted to idleness and leisure is against God's standards. In the past America has benefited from what has been called the "Christian Work Ethic." In most cases, hard work is profitable. Work is noble. God uses our work to meet the needs of others: the farmer raises food to satisfy hunger. The homemaker teaches children to be productive and valuable to society. The educator teaches the next generation and prepares them for a productive life. The craftsmen of the world keep the world running. The businessman provides jobs so people can have food, clothing and shelter. We all are to contribute to the well-being of society, and join hands with God to meet the needs of mankind . The point here is that we should continue to work in whatever job we have as long as we are able. Even for those who are retired should remain active. There are plenty of opportunities for volunteer work. For those with physical limitations, there is the very vital labor of prayer and encouragement. There is never retirement from the Lord's service! There is no room for a Biblical Christian to kick back and thinking he has arrived. There is always more to learn, more worship, praise and thanksgiving to offer, and more intercession for the needs of others. While we wait for the Lord to return, we are to abound in love for others; we are to lead peaceful, humble and unobtrusive lives; we are to attend to our own business, not sticking our nose into the affairs of others; and we are to continue to be productive in work, not passing our days in idleness. 1 Church History: The Great Disappointment; gci.org/articles/the-great-disappointment/ --------------- ------------------------------------------------------------ --------------- ------------------------------------------------------------ 2