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online Bible teaching ministry of Stephen
&
Brooksyne Weber
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encouragement and exhortation.
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Thursday,
August 3, 2023
The
farmer's
daughter was
raking the hay
yesterday in a
field on
Carmany Road
near our home.
(Click on photo to enlarge.)
(Click on photo to enlarge.)
"A
Vital Rule"
Message
summary:
Paul
issued a vital
rule to the
Thessalonian
believers (and
through
Scripture to
all of us): "If
a man will not
work, he shall
not eat".
Today, as you
work remember
the words of
Scripture and
see your labor
as an act of
faith,
obedience, and
personal
responsibility.
Listen to our message on your audio player.
“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” (2
Thessalonians
3:10-12).
There’s
a call going
out, across
the land in
every nation,
A call to all who swear allegiance, to the cross of Christ,
A call to true humility, to live our lives responsibly,
To deepen our devotion, to the cross at any price.
A call to all who swear allegiance, to the cross of Christ,
A call to true humility, to live our lives responsibly,
To deepen our devotion, to the cross at any price.
Last
week we drove
by the Kansas
City Sport's
Complex where
both the
Kansas City
Royals and
Chiefs* play
in separate
stadiums. We
had considered
going to a
baseball game
Friday evening
but with the
very hot temps
decided
against it.
But we wanted
to drive by to
get a photo
for Ester of
both the
baseball
stadium and
the football
stadium which
are side by
side. (Note:
I did not take
the photo
above but it's
most likely at
a Chiefs
game!).
Getting
off the I-70
exit ramp
there were
panhandlers
(those seeking
a handout) as
is common in
many cities.
To their
credit these
panhandlers
were honest.
They held up a
cardboard sign
with the
following
message, "Why
lie, we want
$5.00 for
weed". The
light changed
before we
could get a
photo and
being a game
day there was
a lot of
traffic behind
us. They would
probably have
been pleased
and not shamed
by our taking
a photo!
Today
let us
consider a
vital rule
Paul gave to
the
Thessalonian
believers (and
through
Scripture to
all of us) "If
a man will not
work, he shall
not eat".
For many today
such a rule
seems harsh
and
mean-spirited.
Sadly, in our
liberalized
society the
rule for many
is now, "If
a man will not
work, the
government
should take
care of him".
I
am thankful
for a Dad who
taught me the
work ethic by
word but
mostly by
example.
When I was a
teenager I
worked one
summer with
him. He was
employed by a
company that
installed and
serviced
commercial air
conditioning
throughout the
Kansas City
area. There
were hot
summer days
that exceeded
100 degrees
with A/C units
located on the
roofs. That
was brutal! (Note:
photo is not
my dad!)Eugene Weber was a big man in his mid-fifties at the time. Now that I have reached and passed that age I realize how grueling the work must have been for him but he had the classic work ethic his generation is well known for with a strong sense of duty in providing for his family. He lived his life responsibly and that’s a great heritage for a father to leave his children (or in some families it's the mother who is the breadwinner). Thank God there are parents still faithful in doing this.
Let’s consider the topic of responsibility today in light of Scripture:
1)
There are
those who
aspire
self-sufficient
independence.
A major goal
of many in my
generation
(known as baby
boomers) is
"financial
independence".
This means
working hard
and planning
ahead so that
one is "set
for life". Now
there are
commendable
features to
this outlook
but this was
the major goal
of a man whom
God called a
fool in (Luke
12:16-21).
Jesus teaches
us to live one
day at a time
and, although
hard work and
planning is
prudent,
(consider the
ant) we must
be certain
that our
reliance is
not on our own
hard work,
achievements
or planning, but
rather on God.
2) There are those who live irresponsibly in unhealthy and unbiblical dependence on others. Paul’s statements are needed today with so many having the entitlement attitude: "the world owes me a living". This is a dominant and growing sin of our time and leads to many other sins as well such as expressed by the sign we saw on the freeway off-ramp. Paul’s simple, straightforward rule to the Thessalonians, "If a man will not work, he shall not eat", flies right in the face of the current welfare state mentality. Perhaps even more blunt is his statement, "But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever" (1 Timothy 5:8). Faithful preachers need to preach on these passages!
Such statements sound unkind and unsympathetic to many in a generation bred under the prevalent philosophical view of “cradle to grave dependency”. (Note however, that in other passages such as 1 Timothy 5:3, Paul advocates care for the genuinely needy).
3) The biblical teaching on this matter is the call to personal responsibility. Paul commanded and urged the Thessalonians to "settle down and earn the bread they eat". In other words God has ordained that we labor. We must be cautious about both an unhealthy attitude of independence lest we trust in ourselves rather than God, or that of dependence on others that we would develop an attitude of laziness, entitlement or personal irresponsibility.
2) There are those who live irresponsibly in unhealthy and unbiblical dependence on others. Paul’s statements are needed today with so many having the entitlement attitude: "the world owes me a living". This is a dominant and growing sin of our time and leads to many other sins as well such as expressed by the sign we saw on the freeway off-ramp. Paul’s simple, straightforward rule to the Thessalonians, "If a man will not work, he shall not eat", flies right in the face of the current welfare state mentality. Perhaps even more blunt is his statement, "But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever" (1 Timothy 5:8). Faithful preachers need to preach on these passages!
Such statements sound unkind and unsympathetic to many in a generation bred under the prevalent philosophical view of “cradle to grave dependency”. (Note however, that in other passages such as 1 Timothy 5:3, Paul advocates care for the genuinely needy).
3) The biblical teaching on this matter is the call to personal responsibility. Paul commanded and urged the Thessalonians to "settle down and earn the bread they eat". In other words God has ordained that we labor. We must be cautious about both an unhealthy attitude of independence lest we trust in ourselves rather than God, or that of dependence on others that we would develop an attitude of laziness, entitlement or personal irresponsibility.
Today, as you work, remember the words of Scripture and see your labor as an act of faith, obedience, and personal responsibility.
Be
encouraged
today, (Hebrews
3:13)
Daily
prayer:
Father, all
that we have
is a gift from
You, including
that which
comes to us
through the
work of our
hands. You
provide for us
as you see
beforehand all
that we have
need of. We’re
confident that
You bless
people who
work by the
sweat of their
brow,
responsibly
caring for
those in their
charge. For
some who have
lost their
jobs and fear
that their
home or life
savings is in
jeopardy we
pray that You
would open a
door of
gainful
employment.
Until then it
is reassuring
to know that
Your daily
provisions
come in the
most
unexpected
ways when it
is not within
our own
ability to
earn an
income. Help
us to remember
that no matter
what our
circumstance
we are
entirely
reliant on
Your
benevolent
kindness to us
and You want
us to be good
stewards of
all that is
entrusted to
us. Amen.Today's
Suggested Music and Supplemental
Resources
"The
Mission"
Click
to watch on
YouTube
Click
to watch on
YouTube
Click
to watch on
YouTube
Steve
Green
This song has
the line, "to
live our lives
responsibly".
* On a city tour the guide explained the derivation of the name "Chiefs" for the Kansas City football team. Most probably assume it has to do with Native Americans. Not so! H. Roe Bartle, was an American businessman, philanthropist, executive, and professional public speaker who served two terms as mayor of Kansas City, Missouri. He was instrumental in bringing a professional football team to Kansas City. His nickname was Chief, so they named the team after him!
Our
backyard view
this morning
from our
bedroom
window. Our
flower island
is flourishing
with adequate
rains and
regular
watering.
(Click
on photo to
enlarge.)
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WEBER -
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In considering support we are so pleased when we hear from you, our readers, that our messages are a source of teaching and encouragement to you. We also urge you to consider the mission aspect of these daily teachings that are freely available and read by many all over the world.
To
donate
directly
online
click here.
(This will
open to a page
that
designates the
offering
to: STEPHEN
&
BROOKSYNE
WEBER -
700001-237376 SERVING
IN SPECIALIZED
CHAPLAINCY)
If
you desire you
can also
donate
directly
through PayPal
using this link.
This will open
to a page that
states
"Brooksyne
Weber". We
keep this
option
available due
to the
familiarity,
convenience,
for
international
supporters,
and for those
who may not
need an
official
receipt. You
can also set
up for
recurring
donations.
Thank
you,
Stephen
&
Brooksyne
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radioPermissions: Please feel free to pass on, reproduce and distribute any material on Daily Encouragement Net, in part or in whole, in any format, provided that you do not alter the wording in any way or charge a fee beyond the cost of reproduction. It is our desire to spread this material, not protect or restrict it. We do request that you keep the contact, copyright and subscription information intact.
Scripture references are from The Holy Bible: New International Version. © 1984 by International Bible Society; NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. and the King James Version.
Personal Mission Statement: "I am created by God to bring Him glory. Through God's Son Jesus Christ I have been redeemed and make it my life's goal to please the Lord. My mission in life is to honor God through my faith and obedience and prepare myself and all whom I may influence for eternity."
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