“Working To See Both Sides”

Sunday, July 29, 2012

     I have a close friend that is married to a preacher.  She was recently fired from her job, and then soon after, her husband lost his preaching job.  She was collecting unemployment benefits while her husband was looking for a new preaching job, but she wasn't really looking for a new job herself.  Now they have moved to a new state where her husband found a preaching job at a smaller congregation.  She is still collecting unemployment.  She recently told me that she has no desire to look for a job as long as she is getting "paid" not to work.  I have questioned her about this, but she really doesn't feel bad about it at all.  I think it is completely wrong, and I am sure the new church family they are a part of would not agree with such an attitude, but I bet they don't have a clue.  What should I do?

Sincerely,
Frustrated Friend

Dear Frustrated Friend,

You’ve done all that you can and ought to do.  Good brethren are squarely divided on collecting unemployment benefits.  One side says something like, “If someone can’t find work, that is one thing, but if you are purposely not even trying to find work, then you are sinning because of the teachings found in 2 Thess 3:10 and 1 Tim 5:8.”  That argument sounds really great until you hear the opposing point of view (Pr 18:17).

Those on the other side, like your friend, often say something like, “They call it unemployment benefits for a reason.  My employer and I paid for me to have these benefits.  The fact that the government steps in to extend or increase those benefits doesn’t change the fact that they were part of my employment benefits… no different than health insurance if I got sick or L & I if I got hurt on the job.”

The principle is that both sides have a compelling argument, and in such cases, the best thing to do is to make your point and then leave each individual to work out the issue for themselves (Php 2:12).  Come to your own conclusion on the matter until you have confidence (Rom 14:5), but don’t despise those who feel differently, and hopefully, they will do the same (Rom 14:10-13).

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