Jeremiah 15:10 New King James Version (NKJV)
Jeremiah’s Dejection
"10 Woe is me, my mother,
That you have borne me,
A man of strife and a man of contention to the whole earth!
I have neither lent for interest,
Nor have men lent to me for interest.
Every one of them curses me."
When we do things God's way, we will be maligned, reviled and cursed for it.
We could give away all our money to the poor and become like them, they no longer would be our friends, because we would have nothing to give them.
I have known many people who get themselves into debt, wasting the borrowed resources on foolishness with nothing to show for it, when their resources are exhausted they go to others asking to be bailed out of the trouble of their own making.
It is easy to get welfare these days, many who do not want to work seem to be able to get "disability", when people in their condition used to work at something, even as a disabled person. The excuse of disability is growing because the sense of honor is lacking in those who would rather have a free ride than maintain their own dignity by earning what they receive.
They waste what they have acquired from the taxes paid by others, and then come to ask for more money to be able to waste further.
I have received phone calls from people asking for their electric bills and rent to be paid because they ran out of money at the end of the month. They didn't have enough food in their kitchens nor did they have enough to feed their children.
When asked where their money went they would say they just don't get enough. After hearing all their troubles, I ask a few questions to clarify whether or not they are using the money they have wisely. Sometimes I would ask how much money they get and they don't want to tell me. I am more interested in helping them learn to wisely use their resources than handing out money.
My questions begin with, "do you smoke", the answer is always yes. "Do you have a cell phone", the answer again is yes. I ask them if they drink or buy lottery tickets, often the answer is yes. In conversation with these people I discover that they have internet, cable television, throw lavish birthday parties for their children with cakes from the store, expensive gifts for the birthday and even Christmas, while taking trips to see relatives out of town on trains and buses.
In a nut shell, much of what the poor spend their money on are things that we budget for and only do if there is extra money after all the bills are paid.
The poor need to live much more frugally than they do. They need to cancel their internet, cable, cell phones and lavish birthday parties for family members. They need to spend only on food and rent, if anything is left over save it for a day when an emergency arises.
There is a very strange mentality in this country and that is that everyone should have whatever they want, even if they cannot afford it, and those who have enough money should pay for their play things.
There is a saying that I learned a long time ago, that made good sense during a time when every family struggled aside from the wealthy elite.
"Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime." Author Unknown to me.
We are a fast food culture, it is easier to just give our resources than it is to spend some time arranging for a job. I have approached businesses in the past and asked them why they don't give the beggar outside their store, a job. The answer that came back often was, "we did, they said they don't want one."
There are legitimate poor, I understand that, but most of them are in other countries where there are very hard times and oppressive governments, but in our country, most of the poor are that way because they were lazy and/or rebellious.
Everyone can have some kind of job here, even if it is at the bottom of the ladder. The wise young people will start at the bottom doing any job they can get, do it as unto the Lord, perfomring such a good job that the boss learns to trust and rely on them. They make the boss look so good that he doesn't want to lose them, over time he likely will promote them to a better paying position. But even if he does not, remember if we are born again, then our objective is to honor God first above everything. Perhaps our boss will become saved because we honored God and treating him with respect, blessing the boss.
If we are unhappy on a job then we stay, praying for strength to act in a godly manner and pray for the Lord to provide another one. Many people leave a job they don't like before they have another one, this is not wise. Many people have to work at jobs they don't like to keep bread on the table. God can give us what we need to endure while maintaining our Christian character.
Colossians 3:23 "Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men,"
2 Thessalonians 3:10-12
"For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat. For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not BUSY at work, but busybodies. Now such persons we command and encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living."
Philippians 4:13
"I can do all things through him who strengthens me."
Proverbs 14:23
"In all toil there is profit, but mere talk tends only to poverty."
Philippians 2:14-15
"Do all things without grumbling or questioning, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,"
1 Corinthians 10:21
"So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the GLORY OF GOD."
Proverbs 12:24
"The hand of the diligent will rule, while the slothful will be put to forced labor."
Colossians 3:17
"And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."
Proverbs 6:6-8
"Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise. Without having any chief, officer, or ruler, she prepares her bread in summer and gathers her food in harvest."
Luke 1:37
"For nothing will be impossible with God.”
God has commanded us to work, if we want to work He will see to it that we have something to work at. Seek His face for a job, use your resources wisely in only what is needed, forgetting all the toys and playthings, lavish food and expensive clothing, resolving to live frugally and God will bless what little you have.
We may not have all the things we desire, but we will live honorably, even being able to share what little we have to bless others. God never gives us a principle without the ability to carry it out.
Jeremiahs 29:11
"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for your good and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope."
Honoring the Lord is more important than keeping up with the Jones's There can be great joy in living honorably in the Lord.
