I was chatting with a young man the other day. He wanted some money and was hoping that he could get some help from the state, from his relatives and from the church. He was a perfectly able bodied young man, quite capable of earning a living in a variety of ways. But he was not a morning person, so he did not want to have to get up early. He did not care for physical labor, so he did not want a job that required sweating. He had a whole list of reasons why he did not want to work at any jobs that were currently available in the area. After listening to him awhile, I politely declined his request for assistance.
We live in a world in which everyone wants all the benefits of a free modern prosperous society, but no one wants the responsibilities that go with it. Each spouse wants a happy marriage, but they both expect the other spouse to do most of the work. Parents want good kids, but expect the teacher at school to produce them. Everyone wants to have lots of money in their pocket, but they do not want to have to work too many hours to produce it. People want to have health care, but they do not want to pay for it. We have become a society that expects a lot but lacks the desire to put forth the effort to make those benefits happen.
This same sense of entitlement spills over into the church. People want a church that will meet all their needs, but they expect someone else to teach the Sunday School classes, watch the nursery, print the bulletin, clean the bathrooms, preach the sermons, give the money, lead the music, prepare the refreshments and lead all the weekday programs. But that is simply an unrealistic expectation. There is no such thing as benefits without responsibility.
As a society, we need to rediscover the value of working hard to achieve our goals. We need to stop expecting someone else to do all the hard work while we reap the rewards. This is not a new concept. The Apostle Paul talked about this in 2 Thessalonians 2:10, “If a man will not work, he shall not eat” and in Galatians 6:5, “for each one should carry his own load.” It may be an age old concept, but a new generation needs to learn it or our society may not endure much longer.
ouch!
ReplyDeletePerhaps we have made it too easy for people to be this way. This is quite a statement from someone who has given his life to ministry to the poor, but we have seen so many both on and off the street unwilling to work, unwilling to sacrifice, unwilling to take responsibility. It has just gotten worse. I just don't know what the answer is. I don't want to see a lack of compassion, but something has to change.
ReplyDeleteI like this.
ReplyDeleteGood Word!
ReplyDeleteVery true Terry, I come from 2 parents that have always worked very hard for what they have and even though both retired from the state, my dad still works 2 part time jobs! I believe in hard work, and as Christians we need to set the pace for all, we need to work and pay our bills timely and do what we can for all, so that others can look up to us and see what the differnence is "they are doing the right thing and Jesus is leading them."
ReplyDeleteVery good, we all need to stop and think what it really says and then what is our own responsibility.
ReplyDeleteI have heard many times people say," When I was a kid, we didn't have this or that, and we had to do chores and work,but my kids aren't going to have to do that. I am going to make it better for them" The ones saying this are working very hard (to make it better for their kids) Something that they learned to do from chores and work while they were growing up.
ReplyDeleteBut are they making it better for their children? Lots of times the parents are so busy " making it better for the kids" that someone else is raising the kids with their values, whatever they may be. Or the kids are raising themselves, because the parent is absent because they are working! Hmm, maybe our parents had a better grasp than we think!
Well said Charles!
ReplyDeleteAmen to this article. I am in complete agreement with it. Well said.
ReplyDeletethank you for this very wisely written piece!
ReplyDeleteHere's the scary part. People like the young man you met can (and do) vote. Around 40% or more of the U.S. population depends on the government to at least some degree. They will always vote for their best self-interest. God help us.
ReplyDeleteAmen, Bro. Terry!!!
ReplyDelete