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The Bible says I 2 Thes 3:10 “For even when we were with you, we laid down this rule for you: “If a man does not choose to work, neither shall he eat.”
All translations call this an order, rule or command. The English Standard Version calls it a “command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat.
The New American Standard calls it an “order: if anyone is not willing to work, then he is not to eat, either.
The King James says …this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.
The context of this verse starts in 2 Thess. 3: 1-2, which says, “1…pray …, that the word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honored, 2 … that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men. For not all have faith.”
Are the politicians we support wicked and evil – advocating and implementing policies that go against God’s word, so He curses our nation, or are they showing that though they may not be Christians that their policies line up with Biblical principles, so God blesses our nation?
How can we fulfill 2 Chron 7:14 and turn from our wicked ways, so God will heal our land, if we vote for politicians who implement policies that cause us collectively as a society to sin in God’s sight?
2 Thess. 3: 6 – 13 Warns Against Idleness: 6Now we command you… in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, … keep away from any brother who is walking in idleness … because we were not idle when we were with you, 8nor did we eat anyone’s bread without paying for it, but with toil and labor we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you… 9 … to give you in ourselves an example to imitate. 10For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat… 12 … we command and encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living.d 13As for you, brothers, do not grow weary in doing good.
Welfare policies sound spiritual, but are implemented in ways that actually violate Biblical principles. In Leviticus 19:9 God promotes “workfare” by saying “And when you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap your field right up to its edge, nor shall you gather the gleanings after your harvest. You shall leave them for the poor and for the sojourner: I am the LORD your God.” God’s expectation is that the poor go out and harvest the food left behind for them.
The Bible does not promote government welfare that promises all sorts of free stuff. No leader in the Bible tells people he’ll provide all things for them. God wants people busy doing what they can and are capable of doing.
Ecclesiastes 4:5 says “Fools fold their hands and ruin themselves.” Another translation says “Fools fold their idle hands, leading them to ruin.” Proverbs 10:4 says ….Idle hands make one poor, but diligent hands bring riches.
Promising us free stuff may be a way for politicians to get our vote, but the other side of that coin is idleness which is a form of enslavement. God’s plan is for us to work honorably and diligently to be lifted up in Liberty.
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