Title: Should Able People Who Refuse to Work Receive Food Assistance?
Proverbs 20:13 says, “Do not love sleep or you will grow poor; stay awake and you will have food to spare.” This verse speaks to the importance of diligence and the consequences of idleness. It raises a relevant question for us today: Should able-bodied individuals who choose not to work be entitled to food assistance?
While compassion is at the heart of Christian teaching, and providing for those in need is a biblical principle, how do we balance that with the responsibility to work and contribute when able? Is it fair to support those who can work but choose not to? How should we as a society and as Christians respond to this issue in a way that honors both compassion and accountability?
The problem is their kids go without. Remove kids from the home or offer assistance?
Another issue: if you work in a state where minimum wage is still common, those hard working folks can’t get by. Our church bus stopped at an old shack up motel that has whole families living in one room-and at least one parent works. If both parents work, the kids are left alone in an unsafe area and the motel manager is quick to call child enforcement. If you can get help, you don’t have to live in a car or leave the kids alone.
I am ashamed to tell you we stopped the bus ministry and Sunday dinner program after a change in pastorship to a man who believed those’d folks couldn’t contribute financially to the church, and there were complaints that those kids didn’t fit The ministry was stopped. I prayerfully decided to change churches at that point.
Refuse to work vs. can’t work. I hear it at chemo every month. I have experienced it myself. No help if you are not working even if you are physically unable to do so. No help if you are the working poor.
Each state runs government funding differently. And some seem to want to punish the poor.
Better enforcement to catch cheaters, job assignments and childcare during job training would work better.
So no, those who refuse to work should not get financial help, but distinguishing between won’t work and can’t work must be fair. And those who can’t work in jobs that pay a livable wage fir to lack of skills or mental health need to be dealt with fairly.
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