Paying For It
If someone asked you for a handout, would you offer him a job instead?
For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us; we were not idle when we were with you, and we did not eat anyone’s bread without paying for it; but with toil and labour we worked night and day, so that we might not burden any of you. This was not because we do not have that right, but in order to give you an example to imitate. - 2 Thessalonians 3:7-9
In today's reading, Paul gives advice to the followers. He tells them to offer to work hard for the bread they are given.
Follow my example, he tells them. Don't be a burden to anyone.
When it comes to helping others, we often think of giving without getting anything in return. This is certainly the time of year for it, and I am not suggesting we stop giving from the heart, but I'd like to consider something a little larger.
Consider self-esteem.
I may not remember the feeling I had when I learned to walk or tie my own shoes or successfully accomplish that impossible task of unsupervised potty visits, but I do remember the feeling when the training wheels came off the bike. I was elated (even though I had no idea what that word meant.)
Pride may be a sin, but it sure feels good when applied to achieving a goal.
So consider how it feels to stand in line at the food pantry or at the soup kitchen with hat and plate in hand. It sucks.
If we really want to help people, we need to help them help themselves, and that's a tall order.
Really?
The idea of taking someone off the street and putting them to work often conjures up visions of janitorial or handyman jobs. Every so often, someone will come to the church and offer to do anything we need done to make a few dollars.
The easy response is to give them a few dollars and send them on their way, but what does that do to help them? How does that feel to them and to us?
So, consider this for a moment. Suppose we start a campaign of hope and opportunity for the new year. Suppose we talk to local businesses and find out what they need done that they have no time or ability to do, from sweeping floors to building websites.
Then we take that list back to our churches and ask if anyone would like to volunteer to teach the skills these businesses need.
Once we match up a skill to a volunteer trainer, we work out a deal with the business owner to hire someone we train.
Of course, we should think of feeding the people we train when they come to class, and maybe the business owner would like to contribute to the food.
There is nothing new about this approach, but what is new is there are so many needs businesses have that are becoming easier and easier to learn, only they have no time or resources to learn them.
We call this approach The Elijah Project. Like Elijah, who was given food for strength and then called to work for God, we can feed, train and employ those who have lost hope.
If we dream it, it can be.
Stay tuned.
More to come...
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