God Blesses Hard Workers

2 Thessalonians 3:10 "For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat."

Ephesians 4:28 "He who steals must steal no longer; but rather he must labor, performing with his own hands what is good, so that he will have something to share with one who has need."

Begging from others for what one should work for, is a form of stealing and it is lying. Too often I see able bodied men, even young men who are begging on the street for money. Some of these men have been offered jobs but decline, using a bad back or something else as an excuse for their laziness. I notice they can walk all over town with their signs, standing in the hot sun all day waiting for their victims.

In our town we have several who beg for money from those who have worked hard for theirs. These people, we can share the gospel with and pray for, however those who claim to be believers who do this, must be rebuked to go to work, anything they can get, to honor God.

A believer does not have to beg for money, we can trust God to bless our hard work, no matter what that work is. It is more honorable to pick up cigarette butts in a parking lot for little pay than it is to beg for someone else's hard earned wages.

I see, so called ministries, coming from other countries and sometimes here, that use children to do the begging for them. Teaching children to beg for their food, rather than working for it is despicable. When we teach a child to do that which God hates, we will be accountable to God for corrupting them.

We must teach our children to work hard and trust God alone for their provision. When we beg we are not only lazy, but lacking in faith that God will bless our hard work.

Psalm 128:2 "When you shall eat of the fruit of your hands, You will be happy and it will be well with you."

Notice God never said "you shall eat of the fruit of the hands of others."

We are to work hard, provide for our families and use our money wisely so that we have enough to share with others.

Those who beg continually have been shown to be wasters of the funds others provide. Why would they be frugal and thrifty? After all they never had to feel sweat on their brow to earn what they get.

Often those who beg have to lie, making their story far worse than it is, while blaming others for their plight. Yes it is true they are out of money, but what they didn't tell you was all the ways they wasted what they did have.

Begging from those who have worked hard for their money, is the same as stealing a piece of their life. Robbing others to pay for what they did not earn, is the worst sort of socialism.

The manipulative techniques that are employed to trick others into giving, is sinful and just plain mean. Guilting hard working people into supporting them when they chose not to work, gives Christ a black eye in the sight of the unbeliever.

All believers should share their goods and money, but to do it wisely is the challenge. There are times when we feel guilty if we do not give to a beggar. We must walk in the Spirit, discerning the difference between true need and scams.

I have met people who deliberately keep themselves in a state of poverty to be able to use that condition to get others to support them. Purchasing things they don't need to exhaust their funds on foolish wants. As believers we are not called to provide wants to those who will not work.

God only promises believers, food and clothing, anything beyond that is not necessary.
1 Timothy 6:8 "And having food and raiment let us be therewith content."

Laziness is condemned by God. Hard work and humility is rewarded. Those who will not work miss the blessing of fulfillment that comes from a job well done and an employer who honored our God because of what he saw in us. 

Our jobs are our mission fields. They provide opportunity to display the character of God through our diligence.

When the husband is the wage earner, he sees to it that his family is fed and clothed on the funds he brings home. This brings honor to God in the community as the husband diligently provides.

When a woman is a keeper of the home, she manages the money in her purchases, that they be within the budget of all funds the husband brings home.

She pays the rent and utilities first, then food, household needs, then savings. If there is more beyond that, then she can share with others or spend a little on pleasure or gifts for the family. 

Everyone can manage their money wisely no matter how little they have. We have not learned this lesson in America, we think we must have our pleasures met first. We are creating a culture that does not like to work for what it gets, and wastes much on unnecessary things. 

Begging shows a lack of faith! God will not turn aside His help from those who honor Him in their ways, through hard work and thriftiness. 

Psalm 37:25 "I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his children begging for bread."