Tuesday, May 10, 2016

WORK OR DON'T EAT

II Thess. 3:10-11 Even while we were with you, we gave you this rule: "Whoever does not work should not eat." Yet we hear that some of you are living idle lives, refusing to work and wasting time meddling in other people's business.

Paul is chiding the church because there were some lazy people in the church and they were causing some problems. These people had way too much time on their hands and were sticking their noses into other people's business. They were not working to take care of their daily needs but were instead relying on others to take care of them. They were like a lot of people today, they had no problem being a burden to others.

Paul did not put up with such people. His message was very clear, "Whoever does not work should not eat." God helps those who try to help themselves, but He does not honor laziness. Unless there is some obvious justifiable reason for a person not to work, the church should not support them. When the church, society, or an individual supports those who are too lazy to work, they become enablers and a part of the problem and not the solution.

Laziness is a heart issue and through the Scriptures God puts people to work. Nowhere will you find God encouraging lazy people to continue in their ways. Part of the problem so many people have is that they make up their minds to not work to meet their basic needs in life. They rely on the church or the government to take care of them.

Idleness and laziness breeds sinfulness. So often when such people mingle in society, they find criminal and immoral things to do in order to survive. They take advantage of the generosity of others and have no qualms about doing so.

Do what is right before God and work hard. Don't be a busybody and meddle in other people's lives. Work to meet your own needs and the needs of your family.

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