The Apostle Paul addresses a problem of laziness or slothfulness by some, in his second Epistle to the Thessalonians. Even though I am most guilty, though not by my choice but by society prejudice, God’s Holy Spirit has guided me to write about this, as a reminder to all of us, including myself.
II THESSALONIANS: 3: 7-12 "For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us: for we behave not ourselves disorderly among you; Neither did we eat any man’s bread for naught; but wrought with labour and travail night and day, that we might not be charge-able to any of you. Not because we have not power, but to make ourselves an example unto you to follow us. For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat. For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all but are busybodies. Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work and eat their own bread."
Yes for the past nearly three years, not by my choice though, but because I cannot find meaningful employment as I am in my 60’s, I find myself guilty of what Paul is talking about here.
For me, I am ashamed. I know that Almighty God desires me to be employed, to earn money and contribute to the welfare of our household as a husband should, but it seems like society doesn’t see things this way, for they want the younger and the less experienced rather than the one with experience and wisdom and stamina to get a job done efficiently and right. To my darling wife, I am deeply sorry, that the burden of our finances has been dropped into your lap. I wish it weren’t so, I would rather it were reversed.
How many though of my brothers and sisters are just plain lazy, thinking that the world owes them a living, and don’t even bother to try and look for meaningful employment of any kind. Especially if you are in your twenties, thirties, or forties, still young enough for an employer to give you a look see or even a second look, I say shame shame.
Almighty God Himself talking with Moses giving Moses God’s Laws God’s Commandments, tells us in EXODUS: 20: 9 "Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work, meaning that God expects us to work and give no more than six days out of seven to doing work.
In MATTHEW: 20: 1-7 Jesus tells a story about a householder with a vineyard. "For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is a householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard. And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into the vineyard. And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace, and said to them, go ye also into the vineyard and whatsoever is right, I will give you. And they went their way. Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour and did likewise. And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle? They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith unto them, go ye also into the vineyard and whatsoever is right that shall ye receive.
We are commanded by God to work for our daily bread, and not be a burden upon others. Now I for one know that this is not an easy thing. Companies today are not just going to throw jobs at our feet but we must be able as Christians to say honestly that we are and we have tried our best to find employment, and trusting in God to help us find meaningful employment, and never saying "No to honest meaningful employment is all that anyone can ask.
Do not permit yourself to be seen as lazy or slothful. Do not let others see you as a perisite or a vulture, feeding off the hard work of others and doing nothing to contribute. This is one time where "Pride" is not a sin. Be proud that you contribute to God, to family and to society by going out daily and working, even for minimum wage. I know that in a heart beat, I would if I could.
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