Imminence & Idleness

9/19/25 Bible Thought (2 Thessalonians 3)

Photo by GV Chana on Unsplash

Eschatology should not lead to passivity or idleness.

As the apostle Paul closes another letter, he changes topics from the man of lawlessness and the coming of Christ to the life of a believer. However, it is likely that the end-times is still the background to the apostle’s concerns.

With this, Paul puts forward a number of things that are all rooted in the need to avoid idleness.

First, he showcases his own example and asks the church to pray for him:

“that the word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honored, as happened among you” (2 Thess. 3:1).

The apostle Paul, while understanding that the coming of Christ was a real future hope, used that knowledge to get busy with Kingdom-business. The time was short, so it was time to get to work.

Paul was a man who made the most of his time. He was both a tentmaker and an apostle. He was the furthest thing from idle. With his own example in mind, the apostle charged the Thessalonians to get to work for some walked in idleness (2 Thess. 3:6,11)

Now, why was this?

While it is not explicit, given the context of Paul’s writings to the Thessalonians it seems that their idleness might have stemmed from their understanding of the end. Their belief in Christ’s imminence led to their own idleness.

Paul had encouraged the church that those who were living at the time of Christ’s coming would be caught up with Him (1 Thess. 4:17). As such, there was an accepted probability that Christ might come in the first century A.D.

For the apostle had written, “we who are alive, who are left…” which makes it appear that he truly felt Christ might come within his own lifetime.

Now, with that in mind, why go to work? Why do anything? If Christ is really going to come back and set up His Kingdom any day now, then why not just kick back and relax? It appears this is the understanding of some of the Thessalonians.

In fact, to some extent, I believe this sort of thinking can affect the modern church as well. Many are convinced that Christ will surely come in their lifetime. As such, all of their decisions are short-term.

There is no need for anything more, because we will not be here—no long-term planning for missions, facility stewardship, or financial stewardship because Jesus will be here soon. We do not embark on building projects and beautiful cathedrals like they did centuries ago because Jesus will be here before they are even completed.

But what if He tarries?

I know of believers who are utterly 110 percent convinced that Christ is coming in their lifetime. I likewise know of other believers who are utterly 110 percent convinced that Christ’s coming is still far into the future—possibly centuries or even millennia to come!

Many think that the world is so bad that Christ has to be coming, yet we lose sight of the fact that Nero was turning Christians into human candles and feeding them to wild beasts for sport before all the writings of the New Testament were even completed!

Is it really that much worse today? Has the world gone kaput to such a degree that human candles pale in comparison? Perhaps we simply forget how wicked the world has been since the fall. Things have not changed.

Now, I will not pretend to have a timeframe regarding these matters. However, I do want us to avoid the trap of abandon-ship eschatology that will drive us to idleness and indifference regarding any long-term planning because surely Christ will be here any minute!

I certainly hope that Christ comes and that He comes soon. I also know that His delay is based upon the mercy of God who is constantly drawing sinners to repentance (see 2 Pet. 3:9).

We should live with hope as if He is coming any minute. However, we should also work diligently with what He has given to us knowing that He might continue to tarry.

We build. We disciple. We spread the good news. We work. We do all these things, praying and hoping for Christ’s return, but likewise not expecting that He will bust us out of our present obligations!

Truly, the abandon-ship eschatology is of no benefit to our children, grandchildren, and the next generation of church leaders if Christ continues to tarry.

Every generation that has believed Christ would come in their lifetime has been wrong for 2,000 years. Eventually one generation will be right. Perhaps it is those who are living now! But let this thought drive us to hope, joy and diligence not to idleness.

As the apostle puts forth: “Do not grow weary in doing good” (2 Thess. 3:13).

Let us remain faithful in the in-between, keeping our hand to the plow, and trusting that He will come in His time.

Come Lord Jesus.