God feeds the sparrows, but He doesn’t drop it in the nest. Same for humans. Paul noted that “if any would not work, neither should he eat” (2 Thes 3:10). And he was a tent-maker, so he worked when he wasn’t preaching. Several of the Apostles were fishermen, and they worked hard at it. But the minister deserves the offerings he receives, because Paul also said “the laborer is worthy of his hire” (Luke 10:7). Jesus told that to the 70 that were sent out of labor in the harvest of men. Today, pastors have full-time jobs, including weddings, funerals, hospital visits, counseling, and countless other responsibilities.

And working includes everyone. It doesn’t allow people to just sit back and wait for the welfare check. Paul said, “if any provide not for his own, and especially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.” (I Tim. 5:8). Remember that for every dollar a woman receives for each child without a father in the house, hard-working tax payers are forking over that money out of their own paychecks. The only money the “government” has is our taxes. There are people unable to work, but the able-bodied are to work at whatever jobs are available, like it or not.

You women looking for a husband…find out if he has a job and how long he’s worked at it. An employer in normal times, doesn’t fire a man who’s going a good job. Learn how many jobs he’s had…and notice how he treats children, old people, and animals. And would his bumper stickers be decent enough to drive in a funeral possession?

And say…if you met him at two a.m. in a bar, don’t expect him to be home at six p.m., with you and the kids after marriage, unless he’s broke or drunk.

And you men need to double-check too, before you do the double-ring thing. Same goes for that two a.m. thing, and do you have to wade into her living room? And can she cook? That gets important after the honeymoon.

Enough of that…the very best test of all, for either sex…is he or she a Christian? That doesn’t guarantee perfection, but it sure cuts out a bunch of test questions. It helps you to abide by one of my Thorntonisms; “To have a good mate, BE a good mate.”

If you’ve been striking out, try talking to Jesus Christ about it. Ask for his guidance, because he can see right through the makeup. As I’ve said at other times, just talk to him as if He were across the table from you. Because He is. He’s what we Christians call “The Unseen Guest.” Think about it.