God is not a welfare God

Scripture Read: 1 Timothy 5:7-8 Prescribe these things as well, so that they may be above reproach.  But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

Application: An unpopular text in this world of the "welfare state" we live in today.  The thought of holding people accountable is not in vogue. It is the job of those that "have" to take care of those that "don't have" no matter the reason! Once again we are confronted by Your integrity Lord. You are the One that created and commanded charity be given. You instructed even the harvesters to not harvest all, leaving some for the foreigner and those in need to be able to glean some little bit. Because You are the One that stated that You give people their needs and even extra so they can use that extra to help those in need! No One understands sacrificial giving more than You Lord! Yet, Your integrity demands that it be real charity, not taking from those that work to give it to slothful, lazy individuals, or feel it’s easier to live purposeless and want to live off others. Having this balance would cause an incredible change in our society. Hunger can motivate people to become honest about whether they can work or not. I know it is not popular to call individuals lazy, but many in our society don’t work because they just plain don’t want to, it is not a matter of they “cannot” work, but are unwilling to work. 

The reasons are inexhaustible, from not enough pay, or title, to a new syndrome that makes work impossible. Why should we be surprised with this reality? We are all sinners, and if we allow our flesh to control us, it will lead us away from what is good for us. Work requires a discipline in life that the flesh just does not like. If I can get all my needs taken care of and have 40-50 extra hours a week to do what I want to do, should I be surprised that my flesh would prefer that, instead of the discipline and structure that working each week to live requires. The tragic part is that, though this kind of charity is what is most practiced now, the ultimate outcome is producing a very sick environment. Is it logical to expect that when we give a person enough money to make it through the week, plus 40-50 extra hours of free time that any other outcome would take place than the one we have; every kind of drug addiction, all kinds of gambling, including the Lotto, people with no esteem or purpose. Work produces integrity, self worth, purpose, accomplishment and an ability to make and reach goals. Being cared for when you could work and care for yourself produces entitlement mentality, envy, no appreciation for property or rewards acquired by work and a society that only looks after it’s own wants. Also, we don’t see our true situation in this world which is a partnership with our Creator, that blesses the work of our hands. We do not become dependent on You Lord, we become a ward of the State.  God did create creatures that live off of others, but they are parasites, not humans. Real human life always involves responsibility and participation in the community of other humans. That way there is an ability by that community to minister to the folks that really cannot work to feed themselves.

Meditation Questions: What do you like about your work? What don’t you like about your work? What can you do to make your work more fulfilling? Do you depend on your job to meet your needs? What does that show? Do you see your job as a part of the call God has for you? What does your answer show? Is it wrong to expect a person to earn what he or she has? Is anything in this world really totally free? What about Salvation? What does your answer show about your understanding of Salvation?