We did this, not because we do not have the right to such help, but in order to make ourselves a model for you to follow. For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: “If a man will not work, he shall not eat.” We hear that some among you are idle. They are not busy; they are busybodies. Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the bread they eat. And as for you, brothers, never tire of doing what is right. If anyone does not obey our instruction in this letter, take special note of him. Do not associate with him, in order that he may feel ashamed. Yet do not regard him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother. II Thessalonians 3:6-15 NIV

There are some born-again believers (sadly) who talk the talk, but they don’t walk the walk. Do not allow yourself to be influenced by these people. Don’t be moved by their gifts (or the gifts they claim to have) – look at how yielded they are to the Word of God. If they are not personally yielded to the Word of God – do not let them speak into your life because they do not hear God’s voice! The measure of a person’s submission to God’s Word, is the measure of their heart condition toward God Himself. Do not let lazy, irresponsible, disorderly, busybody shirkers have an influence on you. Remove yourself from their presence. Charles Finney said that he would not allow anyone near his children (even if they were relations) who might corrupt their morals or their manners. We should have that much sense with our own selves, as well as with our children. You don’t have to stand in judgment of that kind of person, just remove yourself and your family from their presence and their influence.

Some people think that if they do not work, they are walking in faith, but they are actually walking in foolishness. You must PRAY like it all depends on God, but you have to WORK like it all depends on you! Paul instructs us that we should work to feed and support our families and ourselves. We should not become a burden upon other people simply because we are too lazy, or too busy poking our nose into other people’s business, to provide for ourselves. It is very important that we mind our own affairs and not those of other people, because while you busy yourself with other people’s business, your own responsibilities go unfulfilled. Minding your own business is a command given by God to you. In the day you stand before God, you only give an account for the areas you are responsible for, not the responsibilities of others.

For example, while you involve yourself in other people’s affairs, yours are being neglected and getting all messed up and you can’t even see it. There is no one that will take care of your affairs, except you, so take care of your own business and not others people’s business. If you encounter lazy, irresponsible, disorderly, busybody shirkers in church, the Bible says that you should not associate with them. However, it also says that we should not treat them like an enemy, but admonish and warn them as a brother. Rebuke lazy Christians, but don’t criticize them. Correct them with the Word in order to help them, not to hurt them. Continue to do the right thing without becoming weary or losing heart. Every one wants to do right, but many give up because of worldly pressure or because they feel that they are the only ones doing right. Make up your mind that even if no one else honors God by doing right – you will be the one to do it and the blessing of the Lord will be upon your life.

7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. 8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.12 No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.I John 4:19-21 (KJV)19 We love him, because he first loved us.20 If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?21 And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.

Pastor Rodney Howard Browne teaches us that everybody that knows God has God living on the inside. God is love and when He lives in you, His love lives in you. If His love lives in you, it will be manifested to everyone. They will see God’s love in you and they will see it flow through you towards others. When you are born of God and you know Him, you will love Him and you will love others. The more you know him, the more you will walk in, and manifest, love. Rodney Howard Browne shows us that if you say that you are a child of God and that you love God, but you do not show love towards others, then the Bible calls you a liar! We have a commandment to love.

The entire law is fulfilled in two commandments – love God, love your neighbor. Love enables you to keep the Ten Commandments.Matthew 22:37-40 (KJV)37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.38 This is the first and great commandment.39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.Think about that – you will not break one of God’s commandments if you love Him and you love others! If you love God, you will not do anything, which will affect the fellowship that you have with Him and if you love people, you will do nothing to hurt them because love is incapable of hurting in any way.

Matthew 7:16-23 (KJV)16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.18A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.19Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.20Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.21Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.22Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?23And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.Love is a fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5: 22&23).

If you know God, you will produce the fruit of love. People will see God’s love in you – they will feel God’s love through you. You can do all kinds of wonderful works, prophesy and cast out devils, but the love manifest in you and through you is the true fruit of whether you are a godly person or not. Some people seem to think that as long as the power of God is manifest in their lives, they don’t need to walk in love, but they are mistaken. How terrible to waste your life, doing all the right actions, with all the wrong motives – and in the end be rejected by God. The only true way that everyone will know that we are Christians – followers of Christ – is by the love we show to others.John 13:34-35 (KJV)34

A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.35By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.