Because the government doesn’t always follow Biblical principles, sometimes those who are unwilling to work are still provided food, shelter, and clothing. This is hard for Christians to understand. Paul wrote to the Thessalonians,
“For even when we were with you, we used to give you this order: if anyone is not willing to work, then he is not to eat, either. (2 Thess. 3:10)”
There has always been the expectation that able-bodied people work and provide for themselves. Those who can work but won’t are a burden on everyone else. “3 The LORD will not allow the righteous to hunger, But He will reject the craving of the wicked. 4 Poor is he who works with a negligent hand, But the hand of the diligent makes rich.”1 Christians, who are characterized by generosity, are under no obligation to feed those who won’t work. It might seem heartless and difficult to follow, but lazy people don’t learn their lesson if they are continually supported and excused for bad behavior. If God rejects the craving of the wicked, so should we. OUCH! That’s hard to write, but it’s true.
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1. Proverbs 10:3-4
A Conquering Faith 
True! A man that doesn't work is a poor excuse for being a man! He needs to be the head and get in line with the word. The Bible says, if a man doesn't work he shall not eat. There are so many lazy men out in this world and feels they are owed this. I don't think so! He's just plain ole lazy. Since he can't or won't provide women need to leave him be and let him defend for himself. If you have to move out on your own you can make it and that's if you rely on God's help and depend upon God and not that man. Being Lazy Lazy is uncalled for! Let him see what's it like. The Lord sees it all. Go for it ladies. Why suffer with him and you can prosper without him. Jesus is LORD!
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Read 1 John 3:16-18 recently? Or did you bother to look at the context of 2 Thessalonians 3, where Paul makes it clear that he is referring to busybodies, and concludes in verse 13 that we ought not to get tired of doing good for those who need it? I can just hear people now, “But, Lord, when did we see you hungry, and refuse to feed you?” (cf. Mt 25:44).
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“16 We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. 17 But whoever has the world’s goods, and sees his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him? 18 Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth.” 1 Jn 3:16-18
This passage says for me to love my brother and to do good to him. But if he is disobedient to God, I am not to support him or even eat with him. There is a point where we discern the fruit of the person and conclude that we shake the dust from our feet and move on. Jesus said not to cast your pearls before the swine which means at a certain point you stop because to continue only creates dependency.
Now Anonymous, do you not know these things? 2 Thessalonians 3 says, “11 For we hear that some among you are leading an undisciplined life, DOING NO WORK AT ALL, but acting like busybodies.” Do you choose to be willfully ignorant and not recognize what Paul is saying? Do you prop up those around you who refuse to work and carry their load because that's what Paul is talking about. Paul said they are not working, but are instead being busybodies. That's not the same as how you put it “get tired of doing good for those who need it?” You seem to be rejecting what Paul says. Certainly, even busybodies “needed” food but were not to be supplied it by Christians because they refuse to work.
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What I see in my own town. A church has built what they call a “storehouse” right in the middle of a business district. It attracts and services all of the wandering population. It wasnt built for the church, but for the general population. It is being abused, made fun of , and drained by the same people that drain the govt. The business owners are mad as it interferes with their business's and its in general drains the church resources, just like the devil planned it to. In all my year in church , I have absolutely witnessed to, and fed what would be termed “poor” people here, i.e. tried to help them back to productivily.Know what I discovered? When I quit giving them things…they went somewhere else. Was I sorry? No! I did what God would require or have me do…but it didnt make a difference most of the time…the church needs to take care of their own, while reaching out to those who are suffering and tell them they can have a better life…but if they dont want one, as Jesus said..”let the dead bury their dead” i.e. the world can take care of its own, if they dont want God…I am soooo perplexed to come up with a reason that churches chase the “homeless” constantly…is it because they feel superior? Im truly wondering? People wake up…..God isnt asking us to provide for the world!!!!!!! Only to be ready in season and out of season to offer hope for what lies within…and the offer of a better way of life……which can and should include help physically in the immediate sense…but long term….to tell people to shape up! Or scrape by forever…..
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Wow. Not even eat with someone disobedient to God? You've really failed to understand Jesus and accept His teachings into your heart. I'll pray for you.
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Go ahead, Don't feed the poor!
I have compassion on the poor.
This I say to you; you refuse to feed the poor, and you
refuse to make disciples. Where's Your fruit. You twist My Word to fit your own selfish desires. You are blinded by the evil in your wicked heart, and you try to blind others. You have chosen to do many evil things in My sight, because I say; If you know to do what is good, and you do not do it, it is sin.
Repent therefore, and I will forgive you… Love the Lord God with all your heart, mind and strength,and Love your neighbor as yourself.
Jesus
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Dear Follower, You are choosing to miss the point of the message. It is not that we should not help the downtrodden. Jesus fed many people. But if you have discernment, you recognize that there are people who are able and yet still refuse to provide for themselves and for their families. To give to these is mere enablement. Do not enable someone. You hobble and cripple them.
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After a time even Jesus stopped providing for those who only followed Him for the physical bread, they rejected the spiritual bread He offered. Its one thing to help someone who is trying to help themselves but we are not required to continue to help those who rely on us and refuse to help themselves. I speak from experience here, my adult son, age 31, refuses to work. I have custody of my two grandchildren (his children)so I let him come to live with me to get on his feet and help to take care of them. Three years and six months later, I cannot pay the electric bill but he wants me to go buy steak for dinner! I am trying to take care of him, his two children and my other two daughters on my social security that I worked and paid in, what little child support I am given by absent mother of my grandchildren and of course I have to rely on food stamps because of children in the house. As long as he eats, hes good and it makes me sick. My heart is growing cold against him because I have lost all respect. He even rebels against earning his keep. He has no problem with my paying rent electric, gas, car insurance, internet, providing ALL the misc like toilet paper, soap detergent etc, and we get into arguments because he even expects me to do all the housework as well. Quite honestly, he is sucking the life out of me. Because of me believing I as a Christian, should help him, I have been forced to leave to of my homes and very well may be forced out of this one as well. I have come to my breaking point! My health is no longer very good and he couldnt care less. As if that werent bad enough, he rejects Jesus Christ, so the spiritual battle in my home is very serious, he doesnt even want my grandchildren to learn about Jesus! He never smiles, is always angry and I just do my best to stay in my bedroom to avoid him. I kid you not, I am living with a devil and have finally had enough. I am guilty of being an enabler in my own confusion. And I am “suffering” abuse in my own home, really. He has no shame but I am mortified..
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I do not believe for one minute that these users you refer to as the poor, will ever be disciples, you are deluding yourself on behalf of the works you hope to be rewarded for someday..
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The Bible commands us not to even eat with someone who claims to be brethren but refuses to depart from immorality.
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Please don't use the word of God injuriously. There's a difference between a man who WON'T work and a man who IS SEEKING work and NOT BEING HIRED. There are Master's degree holders who are out of work and not being hired although they ARE SEEKING to work. The bible also says to draw out your soul to the poor who have been cast out(homelessness is not always due to laziness). There's a PHD who is not alcoholic, on drugs, lazy or mentally ill who was homeless as recently as 2011.
And I've met a Master's Degree holding Engineer who was in the same boat as recently as 2015. Neither lazy or on drug or alcoholic or mentally ill. Not fair to label the poor and put them all in the 'lazy' boat simply because they're poor. Sometimes circumstances are beyond people's control and everyone doesn't have a family who can help out. That homeless person could've been any one of you.
This scripture is speaking of those who WON'T work(WILLFULLY). Not the poor in general. There are poor people in the world who work harder than you do. The bible also says to mock the poor is to insult God.
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