Christian Work Ethic as understood by (me!) sandra mickanen
this post is inspired by an experience i had quite a while back; witnessing a perfectly healthy, capable young man, 20-somethings, i'm guessing, sitting in front of a grocery store, with his sign, 'would rather beg than steal'
i carry it as a regret that i did not return and sit next to him with a sign that read: he'd rather beg than work. -for hire signs were everywhere at the time..
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i do believe in helping; i do not believe in enabling.. or loitering.. or allowing anyone to beg in front of stores at shopping plazas
exactly because they become a deterrent to paying customers.. stores lose paying customers incrementally, and then your problem only grows; like a cancer
the people who do -give- to the beggars; while their heart might be in the write place; the result is that the beggars stay; sometimes increase in number..
store continues to lose paying customers incrementally; sometimes having to close, board up, move away all together.
exactly because the loitering, begging population also defecate on the sidewalks, litter (despite garbage cans only a few feet away) -because they exist in a very uncivilized manner
they also cause headache, heartache and extra work for store owners, managers, employees -they are not just a deterrent to paying customers, they are also, a deterrent to owning/operating a small (or large) business.. /see why i repeat, repeat, they are bringing us down, we are not lifting them up...
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skipping here why Dignity Acres Emergency Campground is a very obvious and necessary solution..
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cutting to: The Christian Work Ethic
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i see that, Christians are often misunderstood; mistaken as enablers. -turned to for endless donations
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obviously, we are not including here, anyone with an authentic mental or physical illness which prevents them from working;
obviously, the passage i'm about to retype from the Bible, regards the capable:
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it goes like this:
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context: The Everyday Life Bible. Amplified Version. Featuring Notes and Commentary by Joyce Meyer
Author: Paul Date: Probably AD 51
Second Thessalonians
3:6-
6 Now we charge you, brethren, in the name and on the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah) that you withdraw and keep away from every brother (fellow believer) who is slack in the performance of duty and is disorderly, living as a shirker and not walking in accord with the traditions and instructions that you have received from us.
7 For you yourselves know how it is necessary to imitate our example, for we were not disorderly or shirking of duty when we were with you [we were not idle].
8 Nor did we eat anyone's bread without paying for it, but with toil and struggle we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden or impose on any of you [for our support].
9 [It was] not because we do not have a right [to such support], but [we wished] to make ourselves an example for you to follow.
10 For while we were yet with you, we gave you this rule and charge: If anyone will not work, neither let him eat.
11. Indeed, we hear that some among you are disorderly [that they are passing their lives in idleness, neglectful of duty], being busy with other people's affairs instead of their own and doing no work.
12. Now we charge and exhort such persons [as ministers in Him exhorting those] in the Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah) that they work in quietness and earn their own food and other necessities.
13. And as for you, bretheren, do not become weary or lose heart in doing right [but continue in well-doing without weakening].
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my Christian walk has taught me;
God is not an enabler; God responds to effort; to sincere human effort.
If you are capable of working...
You will make an effort under any circumstance. You would ask if you could do the dishes at a restaurant before you ever felt entitled to a 'free' meal.
You would ask to clean the sidewalks, to mow a lawn, to wash windows.. to walk a dog.. to paint.. to pick up litter.. to weed..
You would do; you would offer to do -something; some form of work, service, help, task,
in exchange for food.
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selah! hallelujah & amen
posted by SANDRA MICKANEN @ 9:47 AM
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