Check the context, note the principles . . .

Post my devotions online has been a disciple in more ways than taking time each day to do it. For one thing, I can easily think of readers rather than listen for God’s Word to me. Or I sometimes slip into teaching mode rather than devotional mode. I’ve also wrestled with difference and similarities between devotional reading and scholarly interpretation. God can use any passage to speak to my daily needs, but I still need to interpret it with care.

A big part of interpretation is context. If ignored, I could be led astray. For instance, a verse in today’s final reading from 1 and 2 Thessalonians stands out:

For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat. (2 Thessalonians 3:10)

God could use this to give me a simple command: don’t be lazy. Or I could apply it to modern culture and form a philosophy regarding anyone who is jobless for whatever reason. However, the context is more specific than either of those thoughts.

Some of the Christians in Thessalonica assumed Jesus would arrive any minute. They responded to that idea by turning away from work but that made them a burden to the others. Paul told them to earn their own living rather than mooching, regardless of when Jesus would return.

Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from any brother who is walking in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us. For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we were not idle when we were with you, nor did we eat anyone’s bread without paying for it, but with toil and labor we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you. It was not because we do not have that right, but to give you in ourselves an example to imitate. For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat. For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies. Now such persons we command and encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living. (2 Thessalonians 3:6–12)

Paul gave himself as an example. God’s people are not to be a burden to one another.

But there is more — while idle these people began meddling in the affairs of others. This is not what Christians are supposed to do either. We are to mind our own business and earn our own living, not take advantage of others. Context helps identify the principle behind these verses.

This passage reminds me of another warning to idle Christians based on the same principle. We are supposed to eat the communion meal together, not take advantage of those who labored to bring the bread and wine or gobble it up as our meal for the day. The example seems odd, but the principle is that our attitude is unity, sharing and recognizing that all of us belong to the Body of Christ. No one has any right to be greedy or take advantage of others, goofing off and letting someone else do all the work. Yes, workers can get tired, but that is not the point.

The passage about Communion or the Lord’s supper uses the same principle as the one about idleness in waiting for Jesus’ return:

Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord. Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself. That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died. But if we judged ourselves truly, we would not be judged. But when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined so that we may not be condemned along with the world. So then, my brothers, when you come together to eat, wait for one another— if anyone is hungry, let him eat at home—so that when you come together it will not be for judgment. About the other things I will give directions when I come. (1 Corinthians 11:27–34)

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Lord, one thing is clear; if I have anything in my life that pits myself against others in Your family or tries to take advantage of them, then I am cutting myself off from communion/fellowship with them and with You. This includes excusing myself from Christian service (“let the pastor do it”) and a host of other attitudes and actions. The entire Bible stresses unity with You marked by unity with other believers. Otherwise, I should be denied the joy of eating with them and experience the hunger of having an independent spirit.

The value of eating together

Eating together provides opportunities for bonding and learning from one another. We share information and news and give extra attention to each other. A family meal fosters security, love, and feelings of belonging. We can model Christian character in a more intimate way and expand our horizons as we listen to others share their lives. Family meals are associated with lower rates of destructive behaviors in the children and higher grades in school.

Besides family, eating with business associates aids trust, provides opportunity to practice good manners, and to share oneself, even if it is only small talk while waiting for service. All this connects people and at the end of the meal, they are no longer strangers.

Surely fellowship meals in the church are beneficial in similar ways. The Bible says of the church that we are “no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord” (Ephesians 2:19–21).

As I read this, I think of our move to a new home and a new church home two years ago. Each Sunday, we have brunch with the congregation. I marvel at this as I see all the above values of eating together. We have developed close friendships in a very short time.

Jesus Christ may have considered some of these benefits when He instituted the Lord’s Supper or Communion. As Paul says, when we share together, it is a participation in Christ (which is true fellowship) and a demonstration of our unity . . .

The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread. (1 Corinthians 10:16–17)

Jesus told the disciples that the practice of communion was to remind them of His sacrifice for them. Paul reminded the church of that purpose: “For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, ‘This is my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.’ In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.’ For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes” (1 Corinthians 11:23–26).

Eating together in this special way symbolizes what Jesus did for us. The bread reminds us of His broken body, the cup is a reminder of His shed blood. Scripture points to the unity Jesus had in mind, but also to the brokenness that made that unity possible. For that reason, I often think of brokenness during the Lord’s Supper. Jesus’ physical body was broken, but now the church is His Body. Are we broken?

The idea of brokenness is not a negative one, such as a church or a person beaten down and ruined. It is more about the brokenness that happens when individual believers have come to the end of self-rule and self-effort and are totally yielded to God. Even as Christ lives in us and is our Lord and Savior, sin is such that our old nature fights to regain control. That tendency must be ‘broken’ and God will use His Word and the circumstances of life to make this happen. However, not all Christians are broken like the bread. Some of us want to be like Christ, but not broken like He was broken.

Paul described some who ate the bread and drank the cup of the Lord “in an unworthy manner” making themselves guilty of sin. They were not ‘broken’ so he told them to examine themselves or watch out for judgment such as becoming weak or ill or even dying. (1 Corinthians 11:27–32)

This points to another blessing of eating together. We become more aware of one another's needs, including the need to yield our lives more fully to God. Because of the relationships being built, we will see and pray about those and other needs. We might even speak a word of caution if someone’s self-rule becomes a continual problem.

This makes meals together a time of building accountability and expressing the loving care of Jesus Christ among those who are members of His Body. We can allow ourselves to be broken for each other just as He allowed Himself to be broken for us.