Letters

Letters to the editor

Highlands Today
Published: November 9, 2012

Get to work

Today there is much talk about how people who have been greatly blessed should "share your wealth" with those who are less fortunate. Many Christians have been convinced this is their duty. I believe all Christians should and would gladly share their wealth with those who are mentally or physically incapable of helping themselves. If not for the grace of God, we could all be in that position. But what does God really say about sharing the wealth so all can be equal?

Using "The Message" version, in the third chapter of Paul's second letter to the Thessalonians he tells the new Christians in verse 13, "Friends, don't slack off in doing your duty." Many have interpreted this command to say a Christian's duty is to help everyone.

If you go back to verse 10, Paul says, "Don't you remember the rule we had when we lived with you? If you don't work, you don't eat. And now we're getting reports that a bunch of lazy good-for-nothings are taking advantage of you."

Paul's next instruction to these Christians says, "This must not be tolerated. We command them to get to work immediately — no excuses, no arguments — and earn their own keep."

How has our government convinced so many hard-working Christians that it is their duty to "share their wealth" with the good-for-nothings among us who refuse to work? This thinking certainly did not come form God's word. Instead, God tells us that if we tolerate such behavior, we encourage people to become slothful. In 1 Thessalonians 4:12, Paul says, "We want you living in a way that will command the respect of outsiders, not lying around sponging off your friends."

Ever since the beginning of the Christian church, God has never expected His children to share their hard-earned wealth to support able-bodied men who simply "choose" to not work, but lie around sponging off others.

Mary Bailey

Sebring