Every day my email inbox and my social media feed are filled with scams that promise to make you money without working. Start an internet business, a side hustle, or invest in this and the money will pour in while you sit at a coffee shop and drink your way to riches. Don’t buy into to these. It’s the people selling this stuff that are making money, not what they are selling. PT Barnum said a sucker is born every minute and these people are betting on it. The Bible tells us that if you aren’t willing to work, you shouldn’t eat. Don’t go hungry.
2 Thessalonians 3:10
In fact, when we were with you, this is what we commanded you: “If anyone isn’t willing to work, he should not eat.
Jesus is Coming Back
There were people in the church of Thessalonica who weren’t working because they were convinced that Jesus was coming back for the church. Their bills weren’t being paid, and their families were going hungry. Others in the church were being burdened by having to help them out. It was causing a mess in the homes and the church. Paul gets right to the point and tells the lazy bums to get to work.
Okay with Charity
The situation hasn’t changed today. There are still many in the church who are hurting their families and taxing the church because they refuse to work. Most people aren’t blatant about their laziness, but they shroud it in something like a lingering injury or working on the next deal — whatever the reason they don’t want to work and are okay with others charity. Leaders in the church need to hold them accountable and expose their charade.
Get to Work
We are built to work. God made us to use our gifts and abilities to provide for our families. There is also a joy and purpose that comes from putting in a good day’s work. What most people forget is that God watches our faithfulness and He blesses that. Sure its a struggle and there are a lot of outside factors that make it difficult, but as believers, we need to put in the work and only rely on the assistance of the church when necessary.