By Gene H. Miller, Minister
Steer Creek Church of Christ
3466 Rosedale Road,
Stumptown WV 25267
Phone 304-462-0384
ghmiller@frontier.com
Steer Creek Church of Christ
When Good Men Do Nothing #2
Our Problem. Since actions proceed from the heart (Proverbs 23:7; Matthew 15:19-20), as a nation, we have allowed certain attitudes to develop through the years that have created many of the problems we face today. We have a heart problem. We need "an attitude adjustment". In this and future articles in this column, we hope to discuss some of those attitudes.
Wealth Without Work. There seems to be a growing number in our society today that try to obtain wealth without putting forth any effort to earn it. We are becoming a nation of panhandlers and freeloaders. We are not talking about honest, hard-working folks who are unable to work, or who are unable to find work. Nor are talking about folks who have been misused and abused by the system.
We are talking about growing numbers who seem to have the attitude that society owes them a living. We are talking about corrupt politicians and unethical business men who search for loopholes and who use the system for their own personal gain, without living up to the commitments they make, nor the standards they set.
We are talking about the shysters and con-artists, who refuse to earn their living, but take advantage of honest, hard-working folks, who seem to live by the philosophy "What's yours is mine if I can get it." We are talking about gamblers, and those who file frivolous law suits, hoping to "strike it rich" without work. Wealth without work seems to be the attitude of growing numbers in our society today, and that creates problems for our nation.
An Attitude Adjustment. Work and responsibility was in our Creator's mind from the very beginning. When God placed Adam in the garden of Eden, He gave him the responsibility to dress and keep the garden (Genesis 2:15). And when man sinned and was driven from the garden, he was told: "In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground." (Genesis 3:19). "Therefore the Lord God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken." (Genesis 3:23).
God intends for man, if he is able, to earn his bread: "Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth." (Ephesians 4:28). "For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat" (2 Thessalonians 3:10).
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