"And when you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap your field right up to its edge, nor shall you gather the gleanings after your harvest. You shall leave them for the poor and for the sojourner: I am the Lord your God." Leviticus 23:22 ESV
Recently, in the United States, there has been discussion about helping people experiencing poverty in this nation. A piece of legislation in Congress sparked a conversation known as "The Big Beautiful Bill." A part of this bill was a work requirement for the able-bodied to receive Medicaid, our safety net for the poor in our nation.
The Bible does encourage people to be concerned about the poor among us, but it does not promote a lack of responsibility for the able-bodied among us. Along with the many references to God's concern for the poor of this world is 2 Thessalonians 3:10, "For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat." When we read the Bible, we need to read it in its entirety, not just the parts that appeal to us.
In the reference in Leviticus, God provided for the poor in Israel. Israel was not to harvest to the very edge of their fields. They were to leave some for people in need among them. Yet, the poor and the sojourner had to take the initiative and go out and gather it. Food was not just given to them without any effort on their part. In our country, in a desire to be compassionate, we have denied people the right to experience the value of work. When we make people who can work dependent on us, we do them no favor.
The talking point that people use regarding a work requirement for Medicaid is that statistics show many individuals lose their benefits. Could that be because many of them get jobs where they don't need the benefits? If they lose their Medicaid because they refuse to work, should they still eat?
