THE IMPORTANCE OF WORK
10 FOR EVEN WHEN WE WERE WITH YOU, WE COMMANDED YOU THIS: IF ANYONE WILL NOT WORK, NEITHER SHALL HE EAT.
11 FOR WE HEAR THAT THERE ARE SOME WHO WALK AMONG YOU IN A DISORDERLY MANNER, NOT WORKING AT ALL, BUT ARE BUSYBODIES.
12 Now those who are such we command and exhort through our Lord Jesus Christ that THEY WORK IN QUIETNESS AND EAT THEIR OWN BREAD."
2 Thessalonians 3:10-12 (NKJV)
Having a legitimate work to do, a means of livelihood, is ethical and biblical; It is God's express Will.
God would be frown on whoever is idle. Idleness or being lazy is not part of God's attributes. "BUT JESUS ANSWERED THEM, "MY FATHER HAS BEEN WORKING UNTIL NOW, AND I HAVE BEEN WORKING" (John 5:17 NKJV). Thus, If God the Father is working and Jesus Christ is also working, then, believers should emulate them (Ephesians 5:1).
Having what to do for a living is ethical and rewarding. It is one of the means through which God rewards the faithfulness of believers who are committed to the building of His Kingdom on earth, either through their giving or the using of their time for the propagation of the gospel, and the expansion of His Kingdom on earth (Luke 8:1-3).
Usually, God uses the work you do as a channel or means through which He rewards whatever good you do for His name sake and His Kingdom and the needy or the poor (Hebrews 6:10).
That said, there are people who are set apart or consecrated to watch over God's fold, who are not permitted to add any secular work with whatever they are called to do.
There is this teaching that is being proponed or put forward by some that those who are into the ministry work should also have aside secular work in addition with whatever they are doing in the ministry work.
This may be right or correct for those who are permitted by God to do it, however, there are any number of ministers who are not permitted to do that. Apostle Paul was allowed and permitted to do the tentmaking work vis-a-vis or in company or together with his ministry work—he was a tentmaker (Acts 18:1-3). However, in Apostle Peter's case, he was not permitted at all by God, Jesus Christ, to do any work in addition with the ministry work given to him (John 21:3-7,15-17).
It all depends on the assignment God has for an individual believer who is called into the ministry work. If God sees that doing the ministry work alongside with a secular work would not hinder or undermine the fulfillment of whatever you are called to do, you might be allowed to go into the secular work, and added with your ministry or assignment. There is no any ironclad rule or policy to it, although, in the old testament, whoever is called to work at the altar is not allowed or permitted to do any other secular work (Numbers 3:5-13). In fact, theirs is hereditary. If you were born a levite, you automatically would have to serve or work at the altar; there is no shortcut to it (Numbers 3:5-13; 18:1-8).
But in the new testament, the examples we see are that of the early apostles, that of Peter in particular (John 21:3-17), and that of Paul and Barnabas in their missionary journeys (1 Corinthians 9:6).
Whoever is called into the ministry should strive to settle this with God, If God actually wanted him or her to be in the ministry work fully without adding any secular work or should do both vis-a-vis or simultaneously.
If you are called fully into the ministry work without adding any secular work to it, do not allow anyone to talk you down and tell you that you are lazy. Those who are working fully in the ministry without adding any secular work are not lazy at all.
The common example which those who are pushing that narrative, adding secular work with the ministry, usually cited is Apostle Paul's example, who engaged in tentmaking work, but they have forgotten how Peter was reprimanded and reproved by Christ Jesus for going back into fishing business after the resurrection of Christ (John 21:3-17).
The fact that Paul was permitted to do a secular work alongside his ministry work or assignment in some places does not make it the norm or standard for everyone who is called into the ministry work.
In fact, If a standard should be set for whoever would work in the ministry, what Jesus Christ told Apostle Peter should be the right standard for the church of Christ. Ministers are mainly to be about the assignment of feeding the flock of God, both the lamb and sheep (John 21:15-17).
Having said that, the believers who are not called fully into the fivefold ministry work should have a legitimate work which they do for living (2 Thessalonians 3:12). READ:Acts 18:3; Ephesians 4:28
No one should be idle, whoever is, such should not eat or be given any food to eat (2 Thessalonians 3:10). In other words, such a person, a loafer, should not be allowed to live off on others—obtain their living or means of survival from others—in the assembly of the people of God.
Thus: " . . . YOU ALSO ASPIRE TO LEAD A QUIET LIFE, TO MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS, AND TO WORK WITH YOUR OWN HANDS, AS WE COMMANDED YOU" (1 Thessalonians 4:11 NKJV).
Peace!