Article March 16, 1957 Issue

"PRAY WITHOUT CEASING"

BERTIE M. SMITH

How important it is to learn that while we are working with our hands, we can at the same time be thinking Godlike thoughts. It is neither necessary nor profitable to become physically idle or mentally lazy while waiting for some anticipated event. Such states always cause stagnation and weave cobwebs in one's thinking.

A stagnant condition had developed in the thinking of some of the members of the young church which Paul had founded at Thessalonica. They had been taught to expect soon the second coming of Christ. Thinking that his advent was imminent, they quit their work and lived upon others. Their loafing and their imposing on others made them disorderly or idle busybodies.

Timothy had been sent back to visit the Thessalonian church, and it was after his return that Paul wrote his two epistles to the Thessalonians. These were church letters, and Paul addressed them to all the brethren. Here they were told how to conduct themselves while waiting for Christ's appearing. They were advised to go back to their work and were told that if any man was unwilling to work, he had no right to eat. And while endeavoring to keep them busy with their hands, Paul also gave his friends spiritual rules to follow. One of these rules was (I Thess. 5:17), "Pray without ceasing."

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