Laziness is a Sin

Giving money to those who have lived a lifestyle of wanton disregard for godly principles, is like opening up your toilet lid and flushing the money into the septic.

No good comes from throwing money after those who have had a proven record of wasting their money on foolishness while choosing not to pay bills.

The better thing to do is to offer to help them to learn how to handle their money.

A few years ago someone called my home to ask for money to pay electric bills. I asked her if she smoked, she said yes but she was trying to quit. Then I asked her if she ever ate out at restaurants, such as McDonalds or other fast food places, she said yes but rarely.

This same young single mother who had never been married, proclaimed loudly that she got government funds but it wasn't enough. She asked to have money to pay her electric bill because they had no heat and they were cold. It was then that I knew I was dealing with a liar. It was August, it was past 80 degrees outside. I told her to open her windows to let in the warm air.

She became angry rather than ashamed I might add, which is a clue. Those who are honest and humble do not become angry when told no, they display humility and shame.

Chances are good that woman was not trying to quit smoking, she probably ate out frequently as many poor people on government assistance do, and we know she was not cold from lack of electrical heat.

So often believers are afraid to call people to account. Their need to feel special from giving over rides their good sense and a need to help people by "teaching them how to fish" rather than just "giving them a fish."

Believers need to stop feeling guilty about having to say no to manipulators who are lazy while demanding our hard earned resources when they will not properly handle their own.

I have respect for those who have messed up but want to learn to make it on their own through hard work and diligence with their available resources. But I have little tolerance for those who just want a hand out to remain lazy and unproductive.

2 Thessalonians 3:10 "For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat."

1 Timothy 5:8 "But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever."

Proverbs 10:4 "A slack hand causes poverty, but the hand of the diligent makes rich."

Proverbs 19:24 "The sluggard buries his hand in the dish and will not even bring it back to his mouth."

Proverbs 13:4 "The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied."

What We Think About Matters

"We become what we think about!" If we fantasize about being superior to others, while continuing to act like we are, demeaning others to remain true to the illusion of our own grandeur, we live in a state of continual emotional struggle to maintain the position in our own minds.. Our focus on self always brings a crystallization of the brain, solidifying the negative and base things in life, keeping us in a fog contrary to God's law and purpose.

Proverbs 23:7 "7 For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee."

When Christ is our focus, we can ponder truth, while evaluating what we allow into our lives. The more we know truth the more we are plagued with the injustice of everything around us, however that joy that lives in us from knowing the end of the story, causes us to rejoice that Christ wins and then we go home to glory.

Philippians 4:8 "Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things."

There are those who believe we are negative because we are continually warning about the pitfalls of sin and rebellion against God. What these people don't realize is that we want people to become born again, saved from their sin and we desire that believers shake off the sin that still remains in them.

We continue in joy knowing that every life experience is a time of learning and growing. As they say "no pain no gain." Those who have few challenges learn less.

We don't dwell on the evil things, we warn about them, so that one day when this life is all over, we can go home knowing we obeyed God, then is when we will get to leave behind all earthly misery. As for now we are obligated to warn others, the time is short.

I am not in a continual state of sadness over all that I see, I become grieved at times, but the joy that dwells in me is greater than everything I experience.

Romans 12:12 "Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer."

James 1:2-8 "2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways."