Neither did we eat any man's bread for nothing; but worked with labor and travail night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you:
All Commentaries on 2 Thessalonians 3:8 Go To 2 Thessalonians 3
John Cassian
AD 435
Once Abba Serapion finely mocked this sham humility. A man arrived at his cell, making a great show of lowliness in his dress and speech. Serapion, as is usual, asked him to offer a prayer. The visitor refused and said that he was guilty of such crimes that he did not deserve even to breathe the same air. Refusing the mat, he sat on the ground. Still less would he allow Serapion to wash his feet. After supper it is usual to have a religious conference. So Serapion began, with kindness and gentleness, to warn him against being an idle and haphazard wanderer, especially as he was young and strong. He told him that he ought to settle in a cell, subject himself to the rules of the elders and maintain himself by his own work instead of living on the hospitality of others. Since St. Paul was working for the spread of the gospel, he might reasonably have lived on others. Yet he preferred to work day and night to get daily bread for himself and those who were ministering to him and could not work themselves…. You must keep true humility of heart—and true humility comes not from affectation of posture or speech but from an interior humbling of the mind.
