2 Thessalonians 3:10 For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: “If a man will not work, he shall not eat.”

I think it was the state of Maine that discovered that when they instituted a work requirement for Welfare payments, their Welfare rolls dropped by 75%. This wasn’t some cruel, draconian rule, but simply a requirement that to receive welfare, an able-bodied man of working age had to be at least looking for work. The Japanese for this verse puts it even more casually: “who doesn’t want to work.” I think the English is a little better here, because plenty of us do things we don’t necessarily want to do. Everyone needs a vacation from time to time. That’s actually a major reason for God’s institution of the Sabbath. However, everyone also needs a sense of accomplishment, that they are making a difference in the world. “Guaranteed income” destroys that, and is a major reason why the children of the wealthy so often turn out so badly. The son of the current president is certainly a case in point. Some people are internally motivated and will always be productive, regardless of their income status, but I’m afraid they are in the minority. Paul isn’t being mean here, he’s just recognizing the human tendency toward indolence, and what a destructive thing it can be. We need to encourage each other, not being critical or demanding but laying down logical ground rules of behavior, so that people will recognize and resist the lies of the devil.

This seems very pointed to me at the moment, because I have just retired from school teaching and my schedule looks remarkably empty. Of course, at 75 manual labor isn’t the logical answer, but YouTube certainly isn’t either. The devil is very skilled at stealing my attention and my time, and I need to be purposeful in submitting it all to the Lord. Yesterday I did waste some time, but finally got around to my autobiography, and I ended the day on a much better note than might have been. Today I have message preparation for Sunday as well as a ministry appointment this afternoon, but tomorrow is clear all the way to prayer meeting in the evening. I need to approach each day as an opportunity to serve my Lord through serving the people around me, so that I will not let the devil trick me into losing the peace and satisfaction the Lord intends for me.

Father, thank You for this reminder, right at the beginning of my first year of “retirement.” Help me never “retire” emotionally from my service to You, but always seek to be Your agent of blessing, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!