"...Who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock? ...saith not the law the same also? For it is written in the law of Moses, thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen? Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope ...." 1 Cor. 7-10. Hope for a full and just return.
In my opinion, this is a cardinal doctrine. It parallels the doctrine of Sowing and Reaping. "Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.Gal.6:7.
God told Adam that he would, for the rest of his life, earn his food through labor.
"In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread ..." Gen.3:19. There is no second choice if a person isn't too young, too old or too handicapped to earn a living. It is absolutely essential that a person be free to expect (hope) to enjoy the fruit of his own labors. If he loses that "hope" he loses motivation to work hard and with consistency. It was not, in the plan of God, that a person is forced to pay the way of those who will not work. This is the irredeemable flaw in Socialism, that able-bodied workers, producers, pay the way of able-bodied consumers who either will not work or will not work to their full potential and will not be frugal with resources. As Margaret Thatcher said, "Socialism works until it runs out of other people's money."
Labor is also part of God's Ten Commandments. He created us to work by putting muscles on us which increase in strength with use. Not to be willing to work, if you are able, is a transgression of God's Law of Commandments for all humans. The 3rd Commandment: "Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labor and do all thy work." Ex.20:8-9.
There you see it. Labor is commanded along with the "holy" day of rest that we have all heard about in a thousand sermons.
"...Sin is the transgression of the law." 1 John 3:4. That includes any one of the Ten Commandments. If we kept all of them but one, we are guilty of them all. They are one thing ... God's Law. It is like, if you broke your arm, you are broken. Your whole body hurts. The Scripture says as much in James 2:11.
"For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law."
There are many benefits of obeying the Commandment to labor. Stronger body muscles, a healthier body, less tiring, a sharper mind, self-defense, enjoyment of other activities, self-image, admiration of friends and family, and respect of enemies. It is also an aid to a good night's rest ... sweet sleep. "The sleep of a laboring man is sweet, whether he eat little or much." Ecc.5:12.
Therefore, to the extent of your ability, apply yourself to your share of the work and only then do you have the right to expect to have food to eat or the other benefits of labor such as self contentment, a happy outlook and "well" being.
"...Eat the labour of thine hands: happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee." Psm.128:2.
But, if you would rather gossip and sow division rather than work, and expect others to share the fruit of their labors with you or do your work for you, when you are able to do for yourself, God says you are a sluggard...
"Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise." Pr.6:6.
"How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard?" Pr.6:9.
"The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing." Pr.20:4.
Not only are you a lazy, unwise, couch potato, sluggard and beggar, God's word says you are not to be fed ... Not by individual, church or government.
"Neither did we eat any man's bread for nought; but wrought with labor and travail night and day... When we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat. For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies. Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread. 2Thess.3:8-12.
We owe it to ourselves and to society to make our own living and save for our own retirement if we are not too handicapped to do so. And for those who are handicapped and unable to help themselves, another cardinal doctrine is that we show the love of God to them (Agape, Charity) and voluntary help and assist them, not by force of government and confiscatory taxation. Giving must be based on Agape love (charity), not upon force and the threat of punishment.
There is no heavenly reward for giving out of unwillingness, fear or intimidation.
Agape giving is one of the primary purposes of the church Jesus built, but the government has taken over that vital function by robbing motivated producers and giving their money to unmotivated takers, drug addicts, prostitutes and a few honestly handicapped and deserving recipients. Giving by the local church has the advantage of seeing the need and determining if the needy person is truly disabled, sick, a child, very old, wasteful, lazy or temporarily out of work.
Fully half of those on welfare do not truly qualify. The local church sees that because they are there in the same neighborhood. The government does not have that advantage. So work to change welfare programs which rob recipients of motivation and self-respect and many taxpayers of motivation to work if they can survive on welfare without working or paying taxes. It is a self-destructive program which discourages "plowing" and destroys "hope".
"...Who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock? ...saith not the law the same also? For it is written in the law of Moses, thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen? Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope ...." 1 Cor. 7-10.
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