Paul urged the Thessalonians to go on working and not give up earning a living. Paul was reprimanding some who were standing about excitedly in groups, upsetting themselves and everybody else as they awaited the second coming of Christ. The thought that Christ will some day come and that life, as we know it, will end is not a reason for not working. Instead there is reason to work all the more and faithfully use all our God-given talents.

It is important for us never to become dependent on charity. We should strive to be independent. We may be tempted to hide our talents and take the easy way out. Yet it is our duty not only to help ourselves but others as well who through no fault of their own, cannot attain independence. Whatever talents we have is God's gift to us. What we make of ourselves is our gift to God. Fidelity to our vocation or our state of life, whatever that may be, is a test of the sincerity of our desire to use all our talents well.