Empower, Not Feed
There are always some who stretch out their hands, hoping to receive finances from others. Apart from those who are handicapped or can’t work due to valid reasons, we do more harm than good to simply bless them financially.
Not every human-driven blessing is God’s blessing. It’s simply indulging in their sluggish lifestyle, which is ungodly in nature.
If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat. - 2 Thes 3:10 (cross-reference Proverbs 20:4)
Instead, refraining from giving actually empowers them to live diligently (read: The Parable of The Prodigal Son) and responsibly. There are part-time jobs out there that most people can do. If non-believers can step out to do it, what more about believers? The name of God should not be abused or used as an excuse.
Our lifestyle is always based on our own choices and decisions (at least in our first world country). If you decide on a certain way of living, you are responsible for that choice.
On side note, if we truly trust God as our Provider, we don’t have to tell others about our needs (Phil 4:19). That’s my conviction and I have both experienced and walked that out.
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