Don't Let Your Arrogance

We have all heard the story (and hopefully cracked the Bible open and actually read) about how Jesus fed the multitudes of people gathered to hear him speak with two fish and fives loaves of bread. (Matthew 14:13-21). I was recently discussing this with some non-believers who chose to use this as an example of how the Bible contradicts itself.

Matthew 14:13-21

JESUS FEEDS 5,000

"When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. Hearing of this, the crowds followed him on foot from the towns. When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick.

1"As evening approached, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. Send the crowds away, so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food.”

"Jesus replied, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.”

“We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered.

“Bring them here to me,” he said. And he directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children."

But then seemingly in contrast, St. Paul famously said in 2 Thessalonians 3:6-18 that "if a man does not work, he shall not eat." I got an unbelievable amount of pushback in regards to this so I felt it needed to be explained in more detail.

We need to always remember that Jesus fed the multitudes not because they earned it, not because they deserved it, and not because they were worthy. He fed them because they were hungry.

2 Thessalonians 3:6-18

PAUL WARNS THOSE WHO DO NOT WANT TO WORK

"Brothers and sisters, here is a command we give you. We give it in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Keep away from every believer who doesn’t want to work and makes trouble. Keep away from any believer who doesn’t live up to the teaching you received from us. You know how you should follow our example. We worked when we were with you. We didn’t eat anyone’s food without paying for it. In fact, it was just the opposite. We worked night and day. We worked very hard so that we wouldn’t cause any expense to any of you. We worked, even though we have the right to receive help from you. We did it in order to be a model for you to follow. Even when we were with you, we gave you a rule. We said, “Anyone who won’t work shouldn’t be allowed to eat.”

"We hear that some people among you don’t want to work and are making trouble. They aren’t really busy. Instead, they are bothering others. We belong to the Lord Jesus Christ. So we strongly command people like that to settle down. They have to earn the food they eat. Brothers and sisters, don’t ever get tired of doing what is good.

"Keep an eye on anyone who doesn’t obey the teachings in our letter. Don’t have anything to do with that person. Then they will feel ashamed. But don’t think of them as an enemy. Instead, warn them as you would warn another believer.

WE HAVE TO REMEMBER CONTEXT

So, which is it? Right?

One of the most profound difficulties in properly applying the teachings of the Bible is remembering that nothing ever happens and nothing is ever said without context, and context matters. It's easy, but wrong, to feel proud and arrogant when we think we've put one over on religion or God or the Bible. As I have stated before... YOU CANNOT GASLIGHT THE ALMIGHTY. One thing to note about St. Paul is that almost every letter we have from him was addressed to a particular church, facing particular specific problems. So exactly what was going on here contextually in Thessalonians matters.

If we don't understand that. If we don't take context into account, we run into ego driven conflicts, with on one hand the instructions from Jesus to feed the hungry, etc and then St. Paul stating, we must work for our food. Our again, our ego will say, "So God, what is it you want?" And then our pride leads us to mockery thinking we can go toe to toe with the Creator.

You have to, no you must remember the context. Indeed, even Paul was engaged in collecting money to be sent back for the relief of the poor in Jerusalem. Paul understood the need for charity as well as the need for self-reliance.

My understanding of the situation is that in this particular congregation there were a great number of folks looking with great eagerness and anticipation towards the second coming of Jesus.

Because they were so focused on return of Christ, they were neglecting activities of daily living including working to provide for their survival. Yes, God provides everything we need to survive, and that includes providing us with a means to earn money. Some members of this congregation were so stuck on the idea of the second coming, that they felt as if working was pointless. After all, what would be the use? This mindset is very similar to the people in this timeline who ran up significant debt in 1999 thinking everything was shutting down in 2000. Remember 2000k and all of the other end of the world scenarios?

Paul was pointing out that this was not good. They needed to not neglect these activities of life while they waited for the second coming. People need and are instructed to be productive, as well as being instructed to help one another.

That said, that verse was not meant to be a judgement call, that people need to work to eat or tough shit... they can starve, as some have interpreted it. However, in our world today, due to rampant corporate greed and societal apathy, not everyone has financial or physical access to food and shelter. But that is for another article.

We need to remember, as we are all one, we need to support and help with love when we can.

CONTEXT MATTERS.

Don't let your arrogance define your ignorance.

--Julie O'Hara 2024

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