10 For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: “The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat.”
Paul goes back to Genesis 3:17 which says, “To Adam he said, “Because you listened to your wife and ate fruit from the tree about which I commanded you, ‘You must not eat from it,’ “Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat food from it all the days of your life.”
Work was very easy because the fruits were already produced (Genesis 2:9,16) and freely given before the fall, but after the fall, work became hard and at times very unpleasant.
If you don’t work how can you eat? If you can’t eat, how can you help the poor? You no longer have any means to help and to strengthen the body (physical) so that the name of Jesus can be praised through your support or help.
In the Book of Psalms, one of the works of the righteous is to help the poor.
[Empasis added] [Psalm 112:6-9] 6 Surely the righteous will never be shaken; they will be remembered forever. 7 They will have no fear of bad news; their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the LORD. 8 Their hearts are secure, they will have no fear; in the end they will look in triumph on their foes. 9 They [the righteous] have freely scattered their gifts [providing] to the poor, their righteousness endures forever; their horn will be lifted high in honor.
Those who work and are helping people, their “righteousness endures forever” It will be remembered in the presence of God and you will be rewarded.
Having a job is not only a blessing for you and your family, but it can be a blessing, through obedience, to others who don’t have what you do. Go out today and become a blessing to someone in need, in the name of Jesus let them know that He loves them.
Spiritual Minefield 