Self Reliance Explained a Different Way

Would anyone argue against, two is greater than one? Would anyone argue against, taking care of one’s self is less a responsibility than taking care of a family? In both cases, no.

The phrase self-reliance is a bane to some in our society. I would have no problem except, these are the same people who have taken up the “I am my brother’s keeper” cause, which they have conveniently relabeled “social justice”.

If we truly are our brother’s keeper, don’t we first have to keep ourselves? Moreover, how is one to keep himself if he is not self-reliant?

I postulate that one cannot adequately take care of his brother, let alone himself, while being opposed to the activities wound up in self-reliance.

The activities wound up in self-reliance is what allows one to be able to provide for himself and have a little extra left over to provide for others.

Suppose you were the Samaritan who found the man on the side of the road. What position would you be in to help?

Pray that such a situation as the one that found the Samaritan finds you.

It was self-reliance, not Government dependence, that positioned the Samaritan to have his own transportation, and his own money, which he used to pay to take care of his “brother”.

Too often the cries of taking care of our “brother” are coming from people who are not working nor are they looking for a job. How are you going to take care of your brother without a job? How are you going to take care of your brother if you are turning the country’s safety nets (social services) into hammocks?

Those who are self-reliant are the ones most able to take care of a brother in need.

I propose that if you are of the “social justice” “my brother’s keeper” camp, and you are serious about it, you would ascribe to the activities of self-reliance, rather than Government dependence.

To be opposed to self-reliance is to become the community that is sitting around waiting for others to be taxed more so you can be taken care of.

If we are going to ask people to take care of their “brothers”, we must as a society, first demand that they begin with “themselves”.