Are we supposed to be socialists?

[CCW95A]

"Sluggard"
‛āṣēl: An adjective meaning sluggish, lazy. It is best known for its translation as sluggards, useless, lazy persons who always fail because of laziness that becomes moral failure

Pro 13:4.. The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat.

Pro 26:16.. The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit than seven men that can render a reason.

Pro 20:4.. The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing.

There are millions of people on "welfare" that fit this description.

Pro 18:9 He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster.

Pro 10:4 He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich.

Pro 24:30 I passed by the field of a sluggard, by the vineyard of a man lacking sense,
Pro 24:31 and behold, it was all overgrown with thorns; the ground was covered with nettles, and its stone wall was broken down.
Pro 24:32 Then I saw and considered it; I looked and received instruction.
Pro 24:33 A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest,
Pro 24:34 and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and want like an armed man.

Want to destroy a nation, just give to those freely who have no intention to work even when they can.

 

[Big Moose]

That scripture was directed at adults who were idle busybodies. That is what upset Paul, God. Them not eating does not please God. He just wanted to show His frustration with such. Today there are things that idle busy bodies can do if they don't work. So taking the ''not eating'' part of that scripture literally applies less and less as we advance. I don't think God has ever taken that scripture literally.

We have the ability today to cure the world of poverty and we should. We don't need ''idiotic'' reasoning like the above. No work = no eat. Wow that is a very kind and caring Christian attitude. To hell with the kids, old and deformed associated with the lazy. Lazy people and all under them must starve to death!!!!

I agree with you. Just as Jesus did not take God's word literally on laws like:
Exodus 35:2 Work shall be done for six days, but the seventh day shall be a holy day for you, a Sabbath of rest to the Lord. Whoever does any work on it shall be put to death. 3 You shall kindle no fire throughout your dwellings on the Sabbath day.”

For in Matthew 12 we see:
11 Then He said to them, “What man is there among you who has one sheep, and if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will not lay hold of it and lift it out? 12 Of how much more value then is a man than a sheep? Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.”

And John 5:

8 Jesus said to him, “Rise, take up your bed and walk.” 9 And immediately the man was made well, took up his bed, and walked.

And that day was the Sabbath. 10 The Jews therefore said to him who was cured, “It is the Sabbath; it is not lawful for you to carry your bed.”

11 He answered them, “He who made me well said to me, ‘Take up your bed and walk.’”

Later on in the chapter:
16 For this reason the Jews persecuted Jesus, and sought to kill Him, because He had done these things on the Sabbath. 17 But Jesus answered them, “My Father has been working until now, and I have been working.”

18 Therefore the Jews sought all the more to kill Him, because He not only broke the Sabbath, but also said that God was His Father, making Himself equal with God.

In the context of the over-arching command of Love for others, Paul's inspired directive was not to cause harm or starvation. As you stated, it was about idleness. It is wrong to live off of others without putting forth the effort one is capable of.