1 Thessalonians 5:14(NLT)
“Brothers and sisters, we urge you to warn those who are lazy. Encourage those who are timid. Take tender care of those who are weak. Be patient with everyone.”
I pass by the same intersection almost every day, and for a while now I’ve noticed the same man holding a cardboard sign that reads, “hungry for food, please help. God bless you.” I go out for lunch sometimes, and I’ve also noticed another man with a similar sign while walking downtown. The thing that strikes me about both men is that they look quite healthy and fit but have a sad look on their faces; I don’t know if that’s genuine or not. Like many of you, as a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, I want to follow his example. I believe very strongly in helping people and demonstrating a genuine level of empathy and compassion, but I’m also aware that in today’s environment, we must be extremely careful and cautious.
The wisdom of God’s Word commands us to be patient with EVERYONE, without exception. However, God’s wisdom also makes it very clear that some people are lazy, timid, and weak. Of the three, laziness is the characteristic that we are instructed to warn a person about. An unwillingness to sustain and maintain one’s self to the best of their ability is a failure to be grateful to God for the privilege of doing so. Genesis 2:15(ESV) tells us, “The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it.” This verse makes it very clear that work is important to Heavenly Father, because it was primary in His instruction to Adam. Being lazy about work is a motivation to beg for some people, and this is just a reality. However, we can’t use anyone’s laziness as a justification to be unkind, rude, or impatient with them.
1Peter 4:10 encourages us to be good stewards of the gifts and blessings we have received from Heavenly Father. This means that we use our resources, financial or otherwise, in a way that pleases God. His Word also directs us to have empathy, so when it comes to giving to people who beg for money, we must use spiritual discernment. God will move upon our hearts when He deems it appropriate to give to those that beg for money.
God instructs us to warn those who are lazy; He didn’t say reward laziness. We don’t know another person’s heart, but God knows it. Again, in today’s environment, a very wise strategy is to seek God for revelation when it comes to giving money to those who beg for it on the streets. We also cannot let our cautious giving be an excuse not to give at all. We cannot abdicate our responsibility to be a blessing to others, instead we must be a cautious, yet conscientious, giver. There are many opportunities to be of service, and these opportunities are all around us. We must keep our eyes and ears open and pray that God will continually guide us to ways to give and make a difference. He alone knows what is in a person’s heart, and if we are obedient and committed, God will not allow us to miss an opportunity to give according to His Will.
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
“A Cautious and Conscientious Giver” written by Kim Times, edited by Reverend Fran Mack for Sundie Morning Sistas ©2019. All rights reserved. All done to the glory of God through Jesus Christ, our Lord! SMS is dedicated to inspiring and encouraging Christian Women through the Word of God.