Work For Food

Lev 19:9  And when ye reap the harvest of your land, thou shalt not wholly reap the corners of thy field, neither shalt thou gather the gleanings of thy harvest. 

10  And thou shalt not glean thy vineyard, neither shalt thou gather every grape of thy vineyard; thou shalt leave them for the poor and stranger: I am the LORD your God. 

There was provision for the poor, yet they had to work to get it. It was not sent to home of the poor or even put in baskets by the road. They had to get off their mat and step into the field. We might call it Workfare.

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.

Note that he said those who will not work, not those who cannot. There is something about working for your bread that lends dignity, purpose and worth to a life. Our current welfare system does not allow that and the old maxim “idle hands are the devil’s workshop” has validity. If you cannot find dignity, purpose and worth by honest labor, you will seek it in ways that are less than honorable. That might be by being the baddest “Karen” in the neighborhood or in varied means of criminal activity.

We have not allowed the offspring to flee the nest so to speak because we have been giving full support to people from cradle to the grave rather than a hand up to fruitful labor and self-respect.

In many cultures, there is no concept of retirement. If you are 94 and can only shell a cup of peas a day you sell that cup of peas. Many retirees suffer from depression because after a while the things they dreamed about doing in their retirement start to lose their appeal. People need purpose. We need to have intense welfare reform. It will be traumatic, but in the end it will be good for the individual and the country. No one likes change or to have their comfort removed, but awesome things can happened when we are taken out of our comfort zone.

Christians that retire from secular work should see themselves are now called to full time service until disability or death. Depending on the disability there are still ways to serve or minister. Elisha was on his deathbed and still gave instructions to the king. The way we use our gifts may change, but the “gifts and callings of God are without repentance. (Romans 11:29) Pew warming is not a spiritual gift. Do not sit, soak and sour! Seek to serve in His power!! Maranatha!!