WILL WORK FOR FOOD
2 Thes. 3:10 (KJV)
For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.
Over the past number of years, I honestly cannot count the number of times that I have seen the scene played over. There he is on the side of a busy intersection in big cities and small towns. I don’t know if it is just me or if you feel this way, but I am leery of tossing money in the coffers of strangers. I do, however, recall a verse of scripture that says;
“Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.” Hebrews 13:2 (KJV)
So suffice it to say, I am careful not to snub my nose at those who are legitimately down and out, those who have “fallen on hard times.” It hasn’t been too many years ago that Tammy and I needed the help of others in the body of Christ to make it through a difficult time.
As I preach this message today you must understand, I am not slighting those who, for no fault of their own have reached a place in their life where they must have help from others to make ends meet. This message is not directed at those who are legitimately disabled or to those who are not doing their dead level best to provide for their family. I have many wonderful friends who are disabled, and would trade their disabilities in a heart beat for the ability to work and make a living for their families. As a matter of fact I am not actually preaching to the natural side of this issue at all. While I do believe that when the scriptures say, “Whoever doesn’t want to work shouldn’t be allowed to eat." 2 Thes. 3:10 (GW) , that God is very adamant that each of us have a responsibility to do our best to hold down a job. In effect what the apostle Paul is saying is, if you aren’t willing to do your best for the Lord don’t run around waiting for a hand out.
I am convinced that this has as much to do with our church life or spiritual life, as it does with our secular life. I stopped at an intersection in a major city one day, waiting for the light to turn green. There he was to my right and up several cars with a cardboard sign in his hand and a large box to his left. The sign read, “Will work for food” but I noticed something as I watched a car pull over and a man jumped out and ran a bag of food from a restaurant chain over to where this man sat. He accepted the bag and as soon as this kind hearted gentleman turned to run back to his car, I watched him open the box to his left and place this bag of food in the box. The thing that interested me was the fact the box was jammed full of fast food bags and all of them from my vantage point seemed to be full. Food to last several days, but interestingly he never ate, he just sat back down and held out the sign. Two questions filled my mind as the light turned green and I drove off.
One: Was he really looking for food?
Two: Would he really Work?
I have seen too many news reports of professional bums. Panhandlers who make over $50,000 per year and do nothing but prey on the kindness of people who work 40-60 hours per week.
Now friend what I am about to say will make those of you who are guilty mad but I must say it anyway. There are professional panhandlers in the pews of every church in America.
They won’t teach a Sunday school class for nothing but they want God to drop all of heaven on their lap. Don’t even think about asking them to work the nursery, or impose on them to mow the grass or clean the church.
Friend, listen to me this morning. The old song was correct, “Jesus has a table spread where the saints of God or fed, and he invites His chosen people come and dine” but, there is something wrong with our doctrine when we preach and teach that it’s all about the food but we don’t challenge the body of Christ to get busy and fulfill the great commission.
James 2:20-22 (KJV)
But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? [21] Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? [22] Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?
24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. [25] Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? [26] For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
I know this is new doctrine to some but, God expects you to work!
All across the church world there are many who have become “fat cat” Christians. Set in their padded pew, eat their spiritual potato chips and drink their spiritual soda and think that the whole world evolves around them. They won’t lift a hand to help their neighbor, make it to every church dinner but don’t show up for one church work day! They gladly take an offering but they always get mad when they are asked to give one.
We must change the mentality that is prevalent in the church and in the nation. There are to many takers and not enough givers. This Lazy mindset is a stench in the nostrils of God. This bless me Christianity is going to bankrupt the church. Remember the old children’s church song, “if we all pull together how happy we’ll be” that ought to be the way the church operates.
Spiritually speaking, and by the way this applies in the natural as well, Proverbs 10:5 says, “you bring shame to your father if you sleep during harvest” This is no time to be sleeping, this is the time when the church must arise, cast off slumber and work while it is day!
Again and again God speaks against slothfulness:
Proverbs 6:6-11 (KJV)
6 Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise:
7 Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler,
8 Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest.
9 How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep?
10 Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:
11 So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man.
Proverbs 19:15 (KJV)
15 Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep; and an idle soul shall suffer hunger.
Proverbs 21:25 (KJV)
The desire of the slothful killeth him; for his hands refuse to labour.
One of the biggest black eyes the church has is when an employer says: “Christians are the worst employees that I have.” Hear me friend, Christians ought to be the best employees in the company. Christians ought to be the best students in school. Let me say it this way, “If you are not going to do your best at what ever you do, don’t tell those around you that you go to Harvest.”
We ought to be the best workers, and the happiest people in the world! Why? Because it is our testimony. When you go to the grocery store or Wal-mart do your best to smile and be happy and when they ask you why and they will, just say, “I am a child of God and I attend Harvest Christian Centre in Park Hills.”
Pastor, Why is all of this important? Have we forgotten the message of the cross? Have we forgotten that the Bible teaches personal responsibility. The message of the gospel is servanthood!
1. Jesus said, “although I am the king of Glory and command angels I will wash your feet, I will meet your needs.”
2. Jesus told us that to be the greatest you must be willing to be the least!
3. Some want to join the ministry so they can be in charge. That my friend is a misconception. You enter the ministry so that you can carry someone’s cross for them. So that you can wash someone’s feet, reach out to someone that is hurting.
The message is simple. We need some men and women, boys and girls to respond to God and become givers. God will only pour his anointing into those who are willing to go into this dark world and let their light shine. Show me someone who is being blessed service after service and I will show you someone who has learned the secret of giving everything they have to those who are in need. This church has been wonderfully blessed with workers over the past few years but as we continue to grow and take on new ministries we are in need of new workers.
Your call to ministry may not be to preach the word from a pulpit, it is possible that yours is a ministry of helps!
And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. 1 Cor. 12:28 (KJV)
What ever your gift is you need to know that God is not going to anoint that gift if you are not willing o spend and be spent for the Gospel of Jesus Christ. If you get blessed today and want to get blessed tomorrow, give everything that you receive away. Give it to the nursing homes, give it to a widow, give it to a hospital. Give it to a family who lost everything in a fire. Give it to children who have never been told they are loved. It is so easy to fall prey to this “Bless me while I sit on a couch all day and do nothing but snack all day” Christianity, and forget how important it is to hold down a job for the Lord and then eat real meals from His Banquet table.
If I am not willing to work, it will do me no good to pray for revival in my life or in this church. If I am not willing to share what he has given me, I am wasting my breath asking for more!
