One of the most fundamental planks of Western civilization is that individual liberty is tied directly to responsibility. The man who takes on responsibility and delivers on that responsibility is afforded more liberty than the man who does not.
It seems counterintuitive, but it’s true. If you take care of your family, take care in your work, and take care of your community, then that community will afford you more options or opportunities than you had starting off.
Do deadbeat, drug addict criminals get small business loans? Probably not. Does the guy with six local car dealerships who sponsors the little league team and attends church routinely? Probably so.
While Paul encourages charity and community – “if anyone is detected in a transgression, you … should restore such a one in the spirit of gentleness” and “bear one another’s burdens” – he’s clear on ultimate responsibility – “all must carry their own loads,” and most famously, “you reap whatever you sow.”
All of this, however, assumes the community itself is healthy.
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