"Pull yourself up by your bootstraps!"
"Make something of yourself!"
What could be more American? And indeed, there is much in the Bible concerning laziness and those who only want to leech off of society. But is the modern American conservative capitalistic ideal of self-sufficiency one that should be shared by Christians?
How much of our world-view concerning our finances and how we help (or don't help) others should be informed by the culture around us? How much of our current view, that is popular among conservative Christians, is more a reaction against liberal socialism rather than a Godly response educated by Biblical values?
Just recently Governor John Kasich of Ohio turned down millions in federal aid for his state saying, "I think we can handle this." Now our first response would most likely be "Great! We need more leaders like this one, not always gouging out every dollar they can from the government's (our) money." And probably that is the right response.
However, nearly 2,000 years ago there was another city devastated by an earthquake, in complete ruin, that turned down the federal aid of Rome saying that they too were able to "handle it." They were rich, affluent, and needed no one's help to rebuild and repair.
This city was the now infamous Laodicea. Known to us today mainly through a letter received by them from Christ, penned by the Apostle John in his book of Revelation. This was the only church for which Christ had nothing but rebuke. No commendation. No, "I like this, but..." Just rebuke and warning.
Listen to Jesus' words to them:
"For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see."
(Revelation 3:17-18 ESV)
You see? They had been educated by their culture. They had learned a Laodicean pride. They were living the Laodicean Dream. They were rich, prosperous, and didn't need anything from anyone.
Now, I am not advocating that we should go to the opposite extreme, as we are often wont to do when we see something unpleasant in ourselves, but instead my aim is to encourage us, as Christians, to receive our ideals from Christ and not Benjamin Franklin.
A friend recently posted a quote from our illustrious founding father:
“I am for doing good to the poor, but...I think the best way of doing good to the poor, is not making them easy in poverty, but leading or driving them out of it. I observed...that the more public provisions were made for the poor, the less they provided for themselves, and of course became poorer. And, on the contrary, the less was done for them, the more they did for themselves, and became richer.”
Sounds pretty good doesn't it? Very American. But compare this to what Paul says in 2 Corinthians when he is speaking to them about helping the poor:
"For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened, but that as a matter of fairness your abundance at the present time should supply their need, so that their abundance may supply your need, that there may be fairness."
(2 Corinthians 8:13-14 ESV)
Indeed, throughout the Bible, Old and New Testament, we see that God is concerned with the poor and that He has commanded over and over again that we with much should help those with little or none. This is a biblical worldview, not an conservative American view, not a liberal socialist view but a biblically informed world view.
James tells us that this is the essence of pure undefiled religion, "to visit the orphans and widows in their affliction." (James 1:27) Jesus, as well, tells us in Matthew 25 that when we clothe, feed, and shelter those in need that we are in truth doing these things to him. True, he is speaking primarily of doing these things for other followers of Christ, but that is only where it starts, not where it ends.
"So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith."
(Galatians 6:10 ESV)
See? It starts in the household of God, but it isn't contained there. No, true love, unfeigned charity must spill out of the boundaries of the church and have it's effect on those outside of our fellowship. We should not be conformed by the culture around us, but they (it) should be informed by us to the goodness of God. This is the very purpose of our love and our good deeds. To expose to the world the glory of the One we follow. To show them, "This is what He is like!" Jesus tells us in Matthew 5:16 to, "let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven."
So if our message to the lost world around us is an echo of our political party's ideals, what are we telling them about the God we serve? The Bible tells that those dead in sin are already enemies of God, (Romans 5:10) but we only add to their blasphemies when we give a distorted picture of His love to a lost, suffering, and dying world.
But back to the original question, "Self-sufficiency: vice or virtue?"
The point of Jesus' words to the Laodiceans was not that it is bad to take care of yourself and to provide for your own, but if we know and believe that everything, every breath, comes from God, the Giver of life. And if self-sufficiency is an attribute that God does not communicate to us, but if instead He wants us to rely on Him, depend on Him for every day, every meal, everything; then the attitude of, "I can take care of myself." is a rebellious attitude that goes against our Creator. He doesn't want us dependent on the government or the rich but wholly dependent upon Him. As we are recipients of His love and grace and mercy, we turn and show those same qualities to the world around us and thereby reflect to the creation around us what our God is like.
And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky above; and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.
(Daniel 12:3 ESV)
