Working While Waiting - Part 2

Sermon by Ian McFarland. Working While Waiting, we explore Paul’s practical and convicting words in 1 Thessalonians 4:9–12, where he urges believers to love one another deeply, live quietly, mind their own affairs, and work with their hands. Far from being a call to a small or insignificant life, Paul shows us that a faithful, steady, diligent life becomes a powerful witness to a watching world. When believers choose responsibility over disorder, purpose over passivity, and integrity over self-promotion, they reflect the character of Christ in their everyday rhythms.

We dive into the idea that waiting on Jesus is not passive. Biblical waiting is active, expectant, and purposeful. Paul’s instructions remind us that the Christian life is not defined by dramatic achievements but by consistent faithfulness—doing the work God has placed before us with excellence, humility, and love. Every task, no matter how ordinary, can become an act of worship and a way to reveal the kingdom of God.

To deepen this theme, we turn to Jesus’ Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14–30). In this story, the faithful servants invest what the Master has entrusted to them, multiplying it with joy and courage. The unfaithful servant, however, buries his gift in fear, excuses, and spiritual laziness. Jesus’ message is bold and unmistakable: God expects His people to steward their time, skills, opportunities, and influence wisely. Wasting what He has given us—out of fear, apathy, or distraction—has real consequences, not only for our own lives but for the generations that follow.Throughout the episode, we discuss what it means to honor God with our work, to build habits that reflect His priorities, and to resist the cultural pull toward distraction, comparison, and entitlement. We examine how Christians can live meaningful, grounded lives that quietly influence their families, communities, and workplaces. True faith produces visible fruit: responsibility, love, diligence, and hope.

Paul’s vision of a “quiet life” is not small—it is deeply countercultural. It is a life rooted in God’s love, resistant to needless drama, anchored in responsibility, and committed to playing our part in God’s mission. As we wait for Christ’s return, our calling is to be faithful with what He’s placed in our hands today, trusting that small acts of obedience accumulate into a powerful legacy for the kingdom.