The Bible teaches us that we should work with our hands in order to provide food and other needs for ourselves (2 Thess. 3:6-15). As a matter of fact, we should also work to be able to bless others.
Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need.I believe welfare is a marvelous program for those who can't work because of physical or mental reasons, or for those who are in a transition time.
(Eph. 4:28 NKJV)
If you can't find a job, and you are looking for one wholeheartedly, then welfare can be a great help in that transition time. I have seen it bless many women and children while they attended college to reeducate themselves.
However, a Christian should never be content with a welfare lifestyle. God has called us to be a blessing, not a liability. Notice what the Word of God says about diligent, hard working people.
Lazy hands make a man poor, but diligent hands bring wealth.Every form of hard work will bring profit. A person who is diligent will end up having wealth and will rule in his or her realm of life.
(Prov. 10:4 NIV)
Diligent hands will rule, but laziness ends in slave labor.
(Prov. 12:24 NIV)
The sluggard craves and gets nothing, but the desires of the diligent are fully satisfied. (Prov. 13:4 NIV)
All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty.
(Prov. 14:23 NIV)
Every desire of a diligent hard working person will be satisfied and brought to pass. I suggest that people find something to put their hands to and allow God to bless them in His timing.
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