If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat!

2 Thessalonians 3:7-12(NKJV)

7For you yourselves know how you ought to follow us, for we were not disorderly among you; 

8nor did we eat anyone’s bread free of charge, but worked with labor and toil night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, 

9not because we do not have authority, but to make ourselves an example of how you should follow us.

10For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat. 

11For we hear that there are some who walk among you in a disorderly manner, not working at all, but are busybodies. 

12Now those who are such we command and exhort through our Lord Jesus Christ that they work in quietness and eat their own bread.

We hear a lot about being compassionate, about social justice and fairness, but look at the verse above.  I think it makes an interesting distinction.  

We are told in scripture to care for the poor and I think that is a good thing to do.  However, what I like about this passage is it makes a distinction between  those who are able to work but won't and those who are truly needy.

"If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat!"

Wow, let someone starve?  That's not very compassionate or Christian!  Isn't it?  This scripture seems to indicate otherwise.  It gives us a clear warning about being taken advantage of by the lazy and shiftless. 

Something to think about!