Greetings my Brothers and Sisters in Christ Jesus. I pray all is well with you and if you have not heard it yet this week, you are loved with the genuine affection of Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior. I wanted to share with you a word from the Lord that has been brought to my attention by the Holy Spirit. But, first, some context: I have been working through my internship with MNSOM and one of the subjects a pastor is required to work through is finances. (A topic that not many people are comfortable talking about.) The people at MNSOM have worked hard to give as many resources as possible to help people be successful in their calling for the Lord. One of the many resources they have provided access to Is financial peace university which, if you haven't heard of before, was created by a gentleman known as Dave Ramsey who is dedicated to teaching people to get out of debt and build wealth using biblical principles. While I was taking one of these classes with my beautiful wife, Proverbs 6:6-11 was brought to the forefront of my mind:
[6] Go to the ant, you sluggard! Consider her ways and be wise, [7] Which, having no captain, Overseer or ruler, [8] Provides her supplies in the summer, And gathers her food in the harvest. [9] How long will you slumber, O sluggard? When will you rise from your sleep? [10] A little sleep, a little slumber, A little folding of the hands to sleep— [11] So shall your poverty come on you like a prowler, And your need like an armed man.
https://bible.com/bible/114/pro.6.6-11.NKJV
Or, in other words, work diligently while you are able to and make sure you have more than enough to sustain you when you are no longer able to, lest you have nothing.
There is another story that applies to this about an ant and a grasshopper. The ant spends all spring, summer and fall gathering food for the winter while the grasshopper spends his time having fun, despite several warnings from the ant that winter would be coming. The grasshopper brushed it off thinking he had more time. Until winter came. The grasshopper knocked on the ant's door asking for food to which the ant replied, “You spent all spring, summer and fall having fun instead of working, laughing at me when I warned you about winter. The food I have is for my family and I. Good day.” With that, the ant closed the door, and the grasshopper was left to fend for himself.
Now, some people would look at the ant as being cruel and that he should have helped his neighbor in need. But I would argue that there is a difference between helping those who cannot help themselves and enabling lazy and destructive behavior. You see, brothers and sisters, we have entered a season of laziness in our nation. We have told entire generations of people that they do not need to work, that the government will take care of them or rather they can be grasshoppers who can live off the work of the ants. Paul actually addresses this issue in 2 Thessalonians 3:
“As for other matters, brothers and sisters, pray for us that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honored, just as it was with you. 2 And pray that we may be delivered from wicked and evil people, for not everyone has faith. 3 6 In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command you, brothers and sisters, to keep away from every believer who is idle and disruptive and does not live according to the teaching[a] you received from us. 7 For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example. We were not idle when we were with you, 8 nor did we eat anyone’s food without paying for it. On the contrary, we worked night and day, laboring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you. 9 We did this, not because we do not have the right to such help, but in order to offer ourselves as a model for you to imitate. 10 For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: “The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat.”
11 We hear that some among you are idle and disruptive. They are not busy; they are busybodies. 12 Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the food they eat. 13 And as for you, brothers and sisters, never tire of doing what is good.
14 Take special note of anyone who does not obey our instruction in this letter. Do not associate with them, in order that they may feel ashamed. 15 Yet do not regard them as an enemy, but warn them as you would a fellow believer.
Brothers and sisters in Christ, let us be the example of what the kingdom's future culture looks like. Let us imitate the apostles as the Word commands that we may truly disciple our children in the truth, that they would not conform to the laziness of this world but work with the intensity and integrity of a citizen of the Kingdom of Heaven. Let us make every effort to disciple our children and our children's children in the character and way of Christ Jesus that they may be a blessing unto this broken world, glorifying Christ with the way they conduct themselves.
May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you always,
Pastor Dakota Swinton