Daily Direction Reading PlanSample

One of the blessings of living in America is that when you lose your job, you can, in many instances, draw unemployment compensation. Of course, to get it, a person has to meet the qualifications. Sadly, many people have exhausted their benefits today and still have no work. Even though some people work only long enough to qualify for benefits, and then quit their jobs to draw the money, most people prefer to work rather than drawing assistance. They realize that holding down a job is critical, not only for their economic survival, but also for their holistic well-being. From creation, God directed that able-bodied people should work. The Apostle Paul stressed the same value when he wrote to the Christians in Thessalonica. Some of them heard the apostle say that Jesus would one day return to earth, so they reasoned that if Christ was coming back, there would be no need to work—just wait for Christ to return. Paul told them they had misunderstood the application of his teaching. So he spelled it out for them: "Those unwilling to work will not get to eat." Of course, when people lose their jobs because of economic conditions or disability, God's people should do what they can to assist them. But the church should not encourage and support idleness and laziness.