Biblical Examples

HELLO FOLKS — The problem of public welfare is ageless. We can go back in history and take some mighty good lessons from it to determine what is the best program to follow.

One of the first recorded incidents of mass public welfare is during the time of the rule of Joseph of Egypt over the Egyptians.

Joseph had provided for the seven lean years. When the people had no food they bought the stored food. When that was gone and they had no money he took their cattle as security. Later they had to seel him their land for enough food to survive.

Did they hate Joseph for taking away their properties? No, they thanked and praised him for having foresight enough to provide for their lives.

Had he given the food to them outright without string attached they would have had no encouragement to do for themselves the things they should do. Later they were given the opportunity to redeem their property. No wonder they became such a great nation. He taught the people self reliance.

The other prime example of general welfare is among the Israelites themselves after the exodus.

The farmers were required to leave the corners of the fields and the edges for the poor that they might have the opportunity to help themselves. Had they had the welfare doled out to them Israel would never have become a great people. It is charity of the highest order to give the needy the gleanings, because it nourishes and strengthens the body while if feeds and builds the character.

When we compare these examples with what has happened to great nations that have fallen we find that the way they cared for the people was generally the reason for their decay. In others words, teach them to provide for themselves and you build a civilization. Hand out their every needs ot them and you destroy the very thing needed to generate society, namely, character.

Each week, Americans open and use about 400 millions cans of food.