The following "Question" was asked by a member of the congregation at Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, California, and "Answered" by their pastor, John MacArthur Jr. It was transcribed by Anjela Paje of Spokane, WA, from the tape, GC 1301-T, titled "Bible Questions and Answers Part 22."  A copy of the tape can be obtained by writing, Word of Grace, P.O. Box 4000, Panorama City, CA 91412 or by dialing toll free 1-800-55-GRACE.  ©1982. All Rights Reserved.

Question

We have all heard the scripture, ‘He who will not work must not eat.’ What about in a godly family where there is single people living together, like in an apartment dwelling, and one of them is working full-time and the other is going to school full-time. Is it permissible, is it godly for one to support the other?

Answer

Well, I do not have any problem with that. I think, if two friends determine that one is going to go to school and one will support that one, that is to say, we want this person who is going to school ultimately to be able to accomplish the training in school that will permit them to spend the rest of their life earning a living. I mean, I got to say that. My wife put me through my last year of seminary. Sure. What the text is talking about there is that a man who utterly fails to provide for his family, who just doesn't provide for them. That's unacceptable and if he doesn't work, he doesn't eat. Of course, Thessalonians is talking about busybodies and so forth, deadbeats, panhandlers, not those people who have a goal and a view in mind to help one another.

Added to Bible Bulletin Board's "MacArthur’s Questions and Answers" by:

Tony Capoccia
Bible Bulletin Board
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