2 Thessalonians 3:10
"For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat."
One of the things that contributes to the destruction of a society is when people loathe work. One of the first things God commanded Adam to do in the Garden of Eden was to work. When you study the Scriptures, you will find that the first thing we see God doing is working. When a society or a person avoids work, then they are avoiding one of the first principles that God set up.
Paul addressed the subject of work. Apparently, the church of Thessalonica had some members who didn't work. Some of the members of this church had acquired an entitlement mentality where they wanted people to give them things without working for them. Paul's address to this church about work shows us several values of having a work ethic.
First, working gives a person a right to eat. God says in the verse above that a person shouldn't eat if they don't work. It is vitally important that children are taught this principle. If they don't get their chores done, then they shouldn't eat. Always remember that the pleasure of receiving should always come after a person works for something.
Second, working keeps people out of trouble. Verse 11 talks about people being disorderly because they didn't work. I oftentimes tell people that I was not a better teenager than everyone else, I was simply too tired from working to get into trouble. Working has a way of driving the foolish energy out of anyone. If you work hard, you will have less energy to get into trouble.
Third, working keeps people from becoming busybodies. When you are working, you will find that you don't care as much about other people's business. Most busybodies are people who have too much time on their hands, and the only thing they do is get into other people's business. The quickest way to stop someone from being a busybody is to put them to work.
Fourth, working destroys the entitlement mentality. Verse 12 talks about eating your "own bread." The only reason people feel they are entitled to something is because they haven't worked. Entitlement societies are societies that don't promote work. When children learn that working is the way to get what they want, then they will stop putting their hand out. This society truly needs a revival of work and not entitlements. Entitlements don't help anyone; whereas, work always produces a positive effect on people and societies.
Fifth, working will make a person feel good about themselves. Verse 14 says that the person who works will not "be ashamed." If you want to feel good about yourself then work. There is nothing like the feeling you have at the end of a day when you look back and see all that you have accomplished. People who work always have a better aura about themselves than those who don't work.
Don't ever underestimate the value of work. Be the type of Christian who doesn't look for ways to get out of working. This is the type of Christian who will have a better testimony and will better influence those around them.