Hard work
In my early years as a Christian, I devoured many books about the Second Coming. Most of them are out of print, and for good reason. Writers interpreted what was going on around the world at the time, attached significance often to random Scriptures, and assured us that Jesus would be making an appearance very soon. I know of people who decided against getting an education because they expected Christ to return at any moment. Eventually, disappointment set in with the realisation that the ‘signs’ had been wrongly read. Not that this stopped some prolific authors: they simply amended their manuscripts and brought out further editions.
Years later, it seems to be that there are two ways to approach the Second Coming. One is to be obsessed with it, and embrace a head in the clouds mentality that insists that long term planning and work is useless because Jesus’ appearance in imminent. The other is to do the opposite, and virtually ignore the truth of Christ’s return, seeing it as irrelevant. Wearied by fruitless speculation, we just get on with life. Both extremes are wrong. In his letters to the Thessalonians, Paul gives the believers there a model to work from with regard to the End Times - he wants them to be working and waiting. In both letters the Second Coming is mentioned in every chapter, so this is a dominant theme in his thinking. Paul calls us to dig in and work as if the coming of Jesus might not be for another thousand years, but always keep an eternal perspective, remembering that what we have now is not all that there will be.
And Paul lived that truth out. He worked long, gruelling hours as a tentmaker, so that he didn’t have to be a financial burden on the churches that he served. The greek wording that he uses to describe his work may indicate that Paul had to work more than one job to keep himself financially afloat.
‘I have worked much harder. I have been in prison more often. I have suffered terrible beatings. Again and again I almost died’ (2 Corinthians 11:23).
‘That’s what I’m working for. I work hard with all of Christ’s strength. His strength works powerfully in me’ (Colossians 1:29).
‘Brothers and sisters, I am sure you remember how hard we worked. We laboured night and day while we preached to you God’s good news. We didn’t want to cause you any expense (1 Thessalonians 2:9).