A supposed brother met me in one of our churches some years ago. He told me that he had no job. He further stated that he had a parked vehicle somewhere, and the only problem was lack of tires. According to him, he could put the vehicle out for transportation and earn a living if he got some tires. We gave him money to get tires and he was more than ecstatic. Shortly after that he showed up again to complain of a health condition that needed surgery. We equally gave him money. At another time he said he needed more money for upkeep after surgery, but we had already grown weary of his incessant demands. When I did not respond he sent me one more text message that we should delete his name from the church data base and never contact him again.

Nowhere does the Bible say a local church should carry all the financial burdens of its members.

I discovered that those who complain the most in the church make the least input. Those who want to benefit most from welfare are mainly opportunists who feel the church owes them. The Bible teaches support for the poor, but that means those who are poor indeed. Nowhere does the Bible say a local church should carry all the financial burdens of its members. What we are taught is that people should work and have resources not only to meet their needs but become a support for others as well. Work is a command to be obeyed as long as we have good health.