that you may walk properly toward those who are outside, and may have need of nothing.
and that ye may have lack of nothing: Two reasons are assigned for Christians’ "working with their hands." As already noted, the first is that they might ultimately win the respect of those outside the church. The second is that useful labor brings independence. Indolence and idleness breed a parasitical reliance on others for the necessities of life. The worker will have his needs supplied and will not have to rely on the charity of others.