Stablished in the Faith
2 Thessalonians 3:3
"But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil."
One of God's desires for every Christian is to be established in life. What the world does not understand about the Christian life is that if one will live it, they will be a person who is established in every area of life. The Christian life is not some weird lifestyle by which people live, but it is common-sense living to help people be established so they can achieve great things for God.
The word "stablish" is the same word we use for established. Four times in 1 and 2 Thessalonians you will find the word "stablish." God gave us the Word of God to establish us. These four verses show what a person must do to establish their life. Let me say that if a person will follow these things in business or in their career, they will also be able to establish themselves in these areas.
First, holy living will help a person to be established. 1 Thessalonians 3:13 says, "To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints." Notice that holiness is a part of being stablished. Holy living is setting yourself apart for the purpose of serving and pleasing God. It is living a life blameless from sin. Let me help you to look at this through different eyes. Unholy living will cause you to be unstable in life. If holy living establishes us, then unholy living makes us unstable. Living your life according to the Word of God causes you to be stable for everything you do will be right, which will make you stronger. Don't listen to the lies of the world. Listen to the Word of God and live the holy life that God commands you to live. Doing right always causes a person to be more stable.
Second, 2 Thessalonians 2:17 shows us that comforting the hearts of others will help you to be established. The reason it will establish you is because you are no longer living a life for yourself, you are living for others. When you live for others, you are not concerned with how you are treated. You are concerned with making sure others are treated right. This will cause your surroundings to have less turmoil caused by selfish living. Live your life to help others, and you will find yourself becoming a pillar among those you are around.
Third, 2 Thessalonians 2:17 also shows us that good works will help you to be established. There are many who can talk about all the things they don't do, but what things are you doing? Christian, it is not enough to do away with the bad works of your life, but you must replace those works with good works. When you do good works, then you are setting the foundation for a healthy future.
Fourth, the verse above teaches that staying away from evil will help establish you. Evil is doing wrong with the intent to hurt someone. Don't ever do anything with the intent to hurt someone. Evil always causes instability. For instance, gossip is evil. Gossip is done to hurt people. Don't ever let a desire to destroy someone enter your heart.
Last, James 5:8 shows us that a resolute belief that Jesus is coming again will help establish you. The reason it establishes you is because it gives you a confidence that what you are doing will eventually be repaid. It will keep you from jumping from one thing to the other. Let me assure you that God will reward you one day. We don't know when that day will come, but you can rest assured that Jesus is coming again, and that all that you do and go through in life will eventually be worth it all. If you keep the hope that Jesus is coming again, then you will find a stable life.