8 But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
28 Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need.
2 On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper, so that there will be no collecting when I come.
The Bible indicates again that one’s vocation must realize sufficient material increase to do, among other things, provide for ourselves. 2 Thessalonians 3:10 says,
If anyone will not work, neither let him eat.2 Thessalonians 3:12b reads: work in quiet fashion and eat their own bread.” 1 Thessalonians 4:11–12 says,Attend to your own business and work with your hands, just as we commanded you, so that you may behave properly toward outsiders.What does that mean? Not being a parasite upon others—that is what it means. So that you may behave properly toward others, not having to live off them and ride upon their backs. And Paul says,not be in any need.Your needs are supplied by the work of your own hands. You must reap a sufficient material increase to provide for yourselves.Secondly, you must reap a sufficient material increase to provide for your dependents. One epitomizing verse for me is 1 Timothy 5:8:
If anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he is denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.And in that case, in the context, the reference is actually to your elderly parents. Now certainly that includes your own immediate nuclear family, but the reference is to your elderly parents. You are to provide for those who have need. Ephesians 4:28:Let him labor, performing with his own hands what is good, in order that he has something to share with him who has need.And then you are to provide for the work of God, to his church. 1 Corinthians 16:2 reads:
On the first day of the week, let each one of you put aside and save, as he may prosper.Proverbs 3:9 says,Honour to the Lord from your wealth.These being our obligations to provide for ourselves, to provide for our dependence, to provide for those who have genuine need, to provide for the work of God through Christ’s church. The point is, we must seek a vocation that will generate adequate income. The real‑life consideration of what is marketable and what is profitable. Young people must be seriously, realistically entertained that you can pay your own way and generously give.
Proverbs 12:11 reads:
George McDearmonHe who tills his land will have plenty of bread, but he who pursues vain things lacks sense.Proverbs 28:19 also reads:He who tills his land will have plenty of food, but he who follows empty pursuits will have poverty in plenty.The fact is that at times notwithstanding our own interests and perhaps even some degree of one’s particular aptitudes, some vocations in a given culture and in a given market can amount to vain things and empty pursuits in view of one’s need to actually earn sufficient income. There may be a lot of things you would like to do, but the question is: can you make an adequate living doing it? If there exists no market, no prospect of sufficient gain, then there are other occupations you need to pursue.1
6 Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from any brother who is walking in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us.