2 Thessalonians 3:8

“neither did we eat bread for nought at any man's hand, but in labor and travail, working night and day, that we might not burden any of you”

“Eat bread”: “Is. Hebraism which means ‘to take food' and can be more generally of receiving maintenance from somebody” (Marshall pp. 221-222). “For nought”: “Without paying for it” (TCNT). “We did not take free meals from anyone” (Mof). “We know that Paul and his companions stayed for at least part of the time in Thessalonica with Jason (Acts 17:7). They did not receive board and lodging from their host without paying something towards it” (Marshall p. 222). “In labor and travail”: “We did hard and heavy work” (Ber). “We toiled and drudged, we worked for. living night and day” (NEB). “Slaving and straining” (JB). “That”: One of the purposes for such sacrifices. “Might not be. burden to any of you”: This is not false humility on the part of Paul. Paul is not saying with. sigh in his voice, “I just don't want to be. burden to anyone”. While in Thessalonica, Paul did take money from the congregation in Philippi (1 Peter 4:16). Hence, Paul was not against preachers being supported (1 Corinthians 9:1 ff). Rather Paul did not want to add an additional burden upon the shoulders of these relatively new Christians, who were experiencing persecution and probably who were having some financial problems of their own. The example of Paul, Silas and Timothy does not leave the idle with any excuses, because these three men worked at two full time jobs. Hendriksen notes, “The latter had been preaching the gospel and working at. trade besides! The former did not do. stitch of real work in either direction. Instead of being. help they were. hindrance to the progress of the gospel” (p. 200).

This verse reveals that the example that other's set can remove all our excuses. The aged, disabled member who always attends, even when in pain verses the healthy member who can seem to make it. The mother with young children, who has time for God verses the single person who cannot seem to find the time.