Christian Charity

Christian Charity by Pastor Gary

In 2 Thessalonians 3:6-12 we read, “In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command you, brothers, to keep away from every brother who is idle and does not live according to the teaching you received from us. For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example. We were not idle when we were with you, nor did we eat anyone’s food without paying for it. On the contrary, we worked night and day, laboring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you. We did this, not because we do not have the right to such help, but in order to make ourselves a model for you to follow. For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: ‘If a man will not work, he shall not eat’” We hear that some among you are idle. They are not busy; they are busybodies. Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the bread they eat (NIV).

Almost every culture has its saying about idleness. The Romans said, “By doing nothing, men learn to do evil.” Isaac Watts wrote: “For Satan finds some mischief still, for idle hands to do.” The Jewish rabbis taught, “He who does not teach his son a trade, teaches him to be a thief.”

Paul was not encouraging a mean spirited refusal to help those who could not help themselves. There were, however, some who could help themselves but, for what ever reason, refused to do so. In 1 Thessalonians 4:11, Paul had already told them that a Christian should make it his ambition to lead a quiet life, mind his own business and work with his hands (i.e. engage in regular employment to earn a living). His concern was two fold: He wanted them to earn their own bread and not sponge off others, and he wanted them to have a good reputation with those outside the church. Because some disobeyed, Paul gave this sterner command: “If a man will not work, he shall not eat.”

The New Bible Commentary makes this observation, “ Although the command has the form of an instruction to the well-off not to give to the idle hungry people, it is primarily meant as a warning to the latter. It is worth repeating that the proverb-type saying applies to people who are unwilling to work, not to those who have no opportunity, and is therefore not an argument against welfare provision for the unemployed.”

Christian charity, then, requires those who have the resources to be discerning and discriminating when distributing help to the needy. The needy also have a responsibility to recognize that they must be doing all that they can for themselves, before they are eligible to receive help. A system of charity that provides for the irresponsible at the cost of the responsible, is doomed to fail. The Bible does not encourage or endorse irresponsible behavior. Christians are to be generous and willing to help those who are in need. That does not, however, mean that we help anyone who asks.