Tues.6.23.15...The Sluggard...Prov.24:15-33

Today's passage in Proverbs (24:15-33) deals with the sluggard or lazy man. It's not the first time we've seen him and it won't be the last. He is mentioned 16 times by name throughout Proverbs. We too have plenty of lazy people in our world today. Welfare has helped many get back on their feet, but many lazy people have found a resting place in our tax funded welfare system. We know God's word has much to say about helping the poor and needy. But what does it say if the person is poor because he is lazy? "If a man shall not work, he shall not eat" 2 Th.3:10. 

If you've been around lazy people, you know how they can come up with all kinds of excuses why they can't go to work. Here's a wild one right out of Proverbs-"The sluggard says, "There is a lion in the road, a fierce lion roaming the streets" Prov.26:13. Again, not all people on welfare are lazy, and certainly not all homeless people are lazy either. But my experiences have led me to believe that a large percentage might be. I've rolled down my car window many times and asked the panhandler with his homeless cardboard sign, "Are you looking for work?" I've always gotten the same answer, "Oh yeah!" So I've given them a card with my name and number on it and asked them to call me. Almost none ever have. One guy did and I lined up a job for him at a thrift store a friend managed. He quit after the first day. A young homeless guy I met years ago took me up on my offer and I generously paid him to help out with simple paperwork and cleaning at our first church building on 44th and Paulina. The next time I just paid him minimum wage. He was angry and said he could make more panhandling on a Friday evening. That was the last I ever saw of him.

I don't think I am a calloused soul. I've given to a Christian relief agency for decades, but I don't give money to those panhandling. Wait a minute; hold your fire. I too know the passages about giving to those who ask of you. But those must be balanced with God's word on not giving to people unwilling to work. What do you say to the person who says he wants the money for food? I've offered to take such men for a meal. Very few have accepted. Perhaps they had other plans for the money. It's refreshing when a panhandler is gut honest with you. 

Here are a few other experiences I've had regarding homeless panhandlers. When I came to Humboldt Park in Chicago, I had to step over the winos passed out in front of the liquor store just to get into the youth center. When they were awake and asked for money, I didn't give to them because I didn't want to further their ruin. While living there, I took in a homeless guy in his early twenties named Frank. He disappeared after a couple of weeks. Nothing was missing except my brand new bike which he loaned out to a teenager, who loaned it out to some gang-banger friends. (Never did get that bike back, but that's a different story.)

When I came to serve at New Life in 1988, I encountered more homeless people panhandling. I decided I would try it...sort of. I dressed up nicely and wrote on a white board, "Not Homeless, Not Hungry, Not Broke- May I give you a quarter?" I had a great time, but the panhandlers did not like me invading their turf. For them I was "bad for business." Once my family and I saw two homeless men after their panhandling shift was over. One took out the pennies he had been given and threw them to the ground. Another time I served in a homeless shelter. It was a winter night and the Super Bowl was on. I was shocked when a few of the men left the facility. I guess they got what they wanted and had some better place to go. News investigation teams have followed "homeless" people to their homes. Is that to say that all homeless people are frauds? Of course not. One homeless man I repeatedly talked to named, Mark* told me he was a former heroin addict. He was a prodigal who had forsaken his family after ripping them off. He also had turned away from the Lord. Sin had reduced him to the streets. He was the one who told me about the other panhandlers working the same corner. "That hunched-over woman is a crack head and is horrible to her daughter. Don't give her a dime." I didn't. As a matter of fact, I never give money anymore to panhandlers. Why? Here a few additional reasons.

-I don't want to contribute to an addiction if that is a problem they are having.

-Homeless shelters can best help such people. Leaders of such have said on Christian radio, not to give to panhandlers. If you want to help them, give to those shelters who can evaluate the person's genuine needs. If they are not lazy, they can best help them.

-Giving to able bodied panhandlers just encourages them to keep panhandling. If no one gave them anything, they would be forced to work to get food. "If a man shall not work, he shall not eat." 

Then where should the homeless turn to for help? Homeless shelters. Or perhaps they should go back home and make things right, if they did their family wrong. The family is supposed to be a safety net to those truly in need and unable to work. "If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever" 1 Tim.5:8. I know not all unbelievers take care of their families, but it's not my job to enable an able bodied man to live such a lowly life. He needs to come to his senses and go back home. When the prodigal was reduced to nothing, he came to his senses and went back home. It is not the job of the church either to feed lazy people, though a number of suburban churches drive in on a Saturday morning to feed the homeless. I'm sure it makes them feel good. But if they are not understanding each person's situation, they just may be enabling bad behavior. How much longer would the prodigal son have remained far from his father and in his sin if he was provided food and clothing? 

I've seen healthy young men, start to bow their heads and shuffle when they take their place on the street corners to beg. What a horrible thing to do to one's mind, to play the part of a victim. If life kicks you down, get up. Men need to be treated as men. "You are better than this! You can make a better life for yourself than this." As with the prodigal son, moral poverty leads to much financial poverty. At least he was willing to work to feed pigs. 

But what if the panhandler is not lazy but is injured, mentally unstable or just can't find work? Those are good questions. But most of us don't have the time to carefully investigate the background of the panhandler, but a homeless shelter can. Recommend they go to one. (My 16 year old son is working this summer at a great one called, A Safe Haven- 2750 W. Roosevelt Rd.) Sadly, I've talked with homeless people who told me they didn’t want to go to a shelter. They didn't like the requirements and curfew. Sounds like teenage rebellion, which has just continued into adulthood. To such people I don't feel badly for not giving to them.

Having said all this, I do give to people on the street corners raising money for legitimate organizations. And I did give to one panhandler more recently. He was sitting down, smiling with a T-shirt that read, "Billionaire in Training." I gave him a quarter just for making me laugh!:)

1.- Our compassion for people must be combined with wisdom. If you've had a good or bad experience with a homeless person, please share that. Or if you think I've taken a heartless or a helpful view toward the homeless, please feel free to share that too. 

*Mark got help from a few different Christians. He got off the streets and last I knew was starting back to church. I told him he needed to make things right with his parents too. I trust he has. 

2.- Pick a verse from our passage in Proverbs 24:15-33 and write it out and some of your thoughts about it. Then look for opportunities to share it with others.

Thanks for the encouragement you give to your brothers on the blog and texts. Thanks also for remembering to put your points on the board as soon as you're done writing here on the blog. It saves us from having to make reminder calls.

Announcements
Happy Birthday James! Enjoy the the day! 
This is the week for birthdays. We will be wishing birthday greetings to a few other M3 brothers this week also. Bring out the cake!