When we have children, they come as different as the wildflowers in the field. Some grow tall and strong. Others hug the ground. And a few have beauty so profound that we are awed by what we have created.
We love them all, from the straight-A student to the one who can barely pass auto mechanics. Yet, the most difficult to deal with is a Garfield.
What is a Garfield? Think of the well-known cartoon character, an orange tabby known for his laziness. He enjoys ease and plentiful food; he is constantly into others’ business; and the very idea of earning his own keep is abhorrent to him.
What do we do with our Garfields? Do we continue to provide for them, considering it our God-given duty to put food before them and tolerate their busybody ways?
2 Thessalonians 3:10-15 suggests otherwise. In fact, in the opening passage, Paul says clearly:
“If anyone will not work, he should not eat, either.”
How do we align Paul’s words with the love of Christ? For Jesus came to all men, not just to the hard workers among us. There are those who are physically unable to work. Should they be cast into the cold?
Of course not. Paul draws a clear line in the sand. It is the busybody, the Garfield, the lazy one who does nothing but mettle in the affairs of others that we should refuse to give food or money to. We should shun them until they change their ways.
God expects us to love the Garfields in our life, but he doesn’t expect us to enable them. Instead we should focus on the poor who have exhausted every option. When the worthy poor reach for our hands, they lift themselves as readily as we raise them up.
When we meet God partway, he will lift us up into his arms of bounty and grace.
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Code: FGO.J.26.13b.vp