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?
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