Good morning. Hobo is a word we don’t hear much anymore. My grandparents used the word, not with fondness I might add, to describe people who wandered around without jobs, homes, or responsibilities. They existed without much of a plan and relied upon the kindness of strangers to meet their needs. I would say that the word “homeless” is what we now use in reference to such folks, but I think that may be a bit too broad.
You see, Hobos lived their lifestyle purely as a matter of choice. They had made a conscious decision to “live without strings” (personal responsibility). That description may apply to many of whom we now think of as homeless, but not all. For a variety of reasons some of those who are now thought of as “homeless” live that life not by choice but because they do not have other options. Christian kindness should be theirs.
The “spiritual hobo” that I am thinking of for this “thought of the day” matches best the hobo description of my grandparents. I am thinking of people who refuse accountability, and whose mindset is to always consume but rarely to contribute. These are people who wander from church to church, always looking for that place where their needs are better met, because above all, everything is always about them.
This issue is nothing new. When Paul writes to the church of Thessalonica he says: For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: “The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat.” We hear that some among you are idle and disruptive. They are not busy; they are busybodies.Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the food they eat. And as for you, brothers and sisters, never tire of doing what is good. Thessalonians 3:10-13
The intention of this writing is not to criticize but to encourage. I think that the hobo mentality is easy to find attractive, but it is not helpful to the individual or to the Body of Christ.
Please take note of the sentence in the scripture passage, “They are not busy; they are busybodies.”
May we all look for ways to serve others. May we all be pleased to find ourselves kept busy. May we all refrain from any temptation to be busy bodies rather than willing servants.
For any who might see themselves as one of the spiritual wanderers described, isn’t it time to find a home and enjoy the blessings that come with a heart of service? The full blessings of the Lord await all who are willing to be all the the Lord desires them to be.
Vern