3:82 Thessalonians 3:8

Paul at Thessalonica earned his own living by hard manual work at tentmaking, toiling by day and often far into the night rather than taking food for nothing.Ms 93, 1899, par. 9–10+4 Though he had full right to be supported for preaching, he deliberately gave up that right there.Ms 93, 1899, par. 9–10+2 He did this so as not to burden poor believers and to leave no ground for charging him with preaching for pay or from selfish motives.ST May 30, 1878+4 His self-supporting toil dignified labor as honorable and stood as the living pattern for the command to withdraw from the disorderly, that if any would not work neither should he eat, but all should work quietly and eat their own bread.Ms 93, 1899, par. 9–10+4 It thereby rebuked idleness excused by Christ's soon coming and calls gospel workers still to labor with their hands when they can rather than live at others' expense.ST May 30, 1878+4

Thessalonica was the first place where self-supporting labor was joined to gospel preaching, after leaving Philippi for the seacoast region, with the gospel preached while working with the hands at the tent-maker's trade, fashioning canvas.AA 347.2–3+2 No one's bread was eaten for free, but with labour and travail support was earned by working night and day, laboring by day in the cause and then toiling a large share of the night, frequently all night, working at night when the day was not enough.Ms 93, 1899, par. 9–10+4 The worker had once held an elevated position and was not dependent on labor, but had learned the trade, and having used and expended means to advance the cause and for personal support, was under unpopular truth obliged to resort to the trade for a livelihood, though feeble in health.AA 347.2–3+1 The toil therefore united daytime service for Christ with nighttime manual work to provide for personal necessities.ST May 30, 1878+2

There was power and perfect right to claim support for preaching, for the laborer is worthy of his hire, but that right was declined and given up there.Ms 93, 1899, par. 9–10+2 The seacoast Greeks around were known, sharp, shrewd traders who held that gain is godliness and honored ability to make money by fair means or foul, and their practices were well understood.RH Mar 6, 1900 Labor provided for personal necessities and for others, and at times fellow workers were supported, with hunger suffered to relieve others, earnings shared with Luke, and help given to Timothy to obtain necessary equipment for his journey.GW92 164.1+1

He worked night and day with his own hands rather than eat anyone's bread for free, so as not to be chargeable or burdensome to the believers.1T 446.2+2 He refused to be supported by the many churches he had planted and refused to live at anyone's expense, especially sparing churches already pressed with poverty.AA 347.2–3+2 Though leaving gospel ministry for manual work pained him, he chose self-support to remove grounds for suspicion about his motives.4T 409.1–3+1

He declined support he had the power and right to claim, in order to make himself a living example for believers to follow.Ms 93, 1899, par. 9–10+2 By joining practical work with gospel teaching he dignified and honored industry.SLP 100.3–101.2+1 His course showed that labor that benefits people or advances God's cause is honorable.SLP 100.3–101.2

He did this to prevent prejudice against the gospel and to keep its influence at its best.ST May 30, 1878+1 He would give no occasion to say he preached in order to be supported, to suspect selfish motives, to depreciate the work of the gospel, or to hurt the influence of God's servants upon hearers and fellow laborers.RH Mar 6, 1900+2 Fearing that accepting means would stand in the way of his usefulness, he refused lest enemies misrepresent his motives and detract from his message.SLP 100.3–101.2+2 At the call of duty he would lay aside his business to meet violent opponents and stop their proud boasting, then resume his humble employment.4T 409.1–3

His hard labor was held up as the pattern grounding the command to withdraw from every brother walking disorderly.Ms 93, 1899, par. 9–10 It grounds the command that if any would not work neither should he eat.Ms 93, 1899, par. 9–10+1 It rebukes those walking disorderly, working not at all but acting as busybodies, and directs them to work with quietness and eat their own bread.Ms 93, 1899, par. 9–10 Meanwhile the brethren are to continue without weariness in well doing.Ms 93, 1899, par. 9–10

His example thereby contradicted the claim that expectation of Christ's soon return justified abandoning ordinary work.ST May 30, 1878 It corrected the idea that Christ's coming was at hand.ST May 30, 1878+1 Believers must not neglect daily duties and resign themselves to idle waiting, but remain steadfast in faith and carry on the work appointed by God.SLP 117.2 They are to communicate received light to others, and to rebuke sloth and aimless excitement by working with quietness and supporting themselves.SLP 117.2

Physical labor is good for all, and there is true dignity in labor.STBk 132.2+1 Toilworn hands prove that manual work cannot be degrading and is not inconsistent with true greatness or elevation of Christian character, and they took nothing from the force of sensible, intelligent, and eloquent appeals.20MR 344.2–345.1 Even the most eloquent preacher, miraculously converted for a special work, is not above manual labor.1T 446.2+1 Gospel ministers when not actively preaching, and when they have opportunity, should therefore labor with their hands to help sustain themselves and avoid becoming a burden.GW92 145.2+2 Though leaving ministry for manual work pains them, they should feel hardships and privations in the cause and do this work with gladness rather than withdrawing with pain from ministry to toil.4T 409.1–3+2

Such self-supporting labor belongs to self-sacrificing ministry and helps show that the work is not merely preaching but serving to save souls.1T 448.1–449.1 Those chosen to labor must give proof of their high calling by growing and improving until they become able workmen.1T 446.2 Those who think they have a duty to preach are not entitled to throw themselves and their families upon the brethren for support until they show good fruits of their labor.1T 446.2 Young preachers and those of little experience are injured by flattery and by being relieved of the burdens of life, and when not preaching they should do what they can for their own support.1T 446.2 This is the best test of the nature of their call, for if they desire to preach only that they may be supported, and the church pursues a judicious course in withholding support, they will soon lose the burden and leave preaching for more profitable business.1T 446.2

Young preachers should work with purpose and a definite plan, preparing under experienced ministers instead of moving from place to place with unfinished teaching and no clear aim.1T 443.1–444.2 In this way they earn their support rather than live at others' expense, as a lesson in diligence and responsibility.1T 443.1–444.2+1