CARE BEGINS AT HOME

In the first-century church, as some people began to get better jobs and to prosper, there were some low-life members of the body who selfishly took advantage of the others' kindness. Instead of pitching in and helping to feed, house, and support others, they were not working at all, but were busybodies and acting in a disorderly manner (2 Thess 3:11). The apostle Paul had little patience for such lazy members of the community. He reminded the Thessalonians that even when he and his coworkers had visited Thessalonica to preach the gospel to them, the missionaries had worked night and day to support themselves, not sponging off the new believers. Although Paul encouraged the fledgling church to care for its members, he also laid down a firm principle: “If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat” (3:10 NKJV). Paul wasn't being mean; he was being practical and fair.

There is a huge difference between a person who will not work and a person who cannot work. The church is called to be responsible for those in its midst who cannot work, and when the tough times come and people are hurting, as the community of believers we must be willing to support those around us who cannot help themselves. Practically, that may involve paying electric bills, providing food supplies, or making car payments for members of the body who are hurting financially. It may mean that the church has to make the house payment or pay the rent this month for some of its members who are temporarily disabled. (Can't you just hear the squawking and squealing among God's people when one person's bills get paid by the Christian community and another's do not?)

It may mean that we can assist groups such as Habitat for Humanity to provide housing for some of our people. Maybe we can work together, as the Amish people are known to do, and have an old-fashioned “barn raising” to help some of the people in our body. In some cases, we may need to open our homes, to take in people who are homeless and destitute, to provide them with a meal or a place to live for a while.

Paul reminded us that we are to “be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality” (Rom 12:10-13 NKJV). Whatever it takes, the Christian community must care for its family members, especially those who are struggling simply to survive. 

(from The Refuge, Copyright © 2000 by Jim Bakker. All rights reserved.)