"It's the Christian thing to do." – referring to the need to support increased government welfare programs.
These and similar quotes are heard often from various supporters of increased government social programs.
But, where in the Bible does it tell anyone to take money from someone else (rich or poor) and give it to others (rich or poor)?
Perhaps more important, God makes it clear that rather than handouts, we are to provide opportunities for the poor and less fortunate to help themselves.
Someone who is simply given a handout develops no real appreciation for it. They don't value it. And, the more often they receive something for nothing, the less they value what they've received. To a lesser extent, people who don't value something can be more wasteful – of food, housing, healthcare choices, or what have you. Why be a conscientious consumer if it doesn't cost you anything?
Someone who is given a handout begins to expect more handouts. The more someone receives from others, the more they expect. It's human nature. Instead of appreciating what they've received from others, they begin to complain when they don't receive it or if they receive less or if what they're receiving doesn't increase. Soon that expectation turns into a right – people have filed lawsuits when the handouts stopped or were reduced!
Someone who receives their livelihood with little or none of their own effort develops low self-esteem.
Someone who receives handouts from a far-off faceless government has no appreciation for what they've received and for the fact that behind their handout are people who've given something up in their own lives to provide the handout.
Those who receive welfare, be it foodstamps, welfare checks, or free healthcare, have little incentive to improve themselves. They have little or no appreciation for what they are receiving, and do not feel that they are a part of the rest of society.
There are shining exceptions, but unfortunately few and far between.
On the other hand, following what the Bible teaches produces a far different result.
Someone who receives support and assistance from an individual or even their church has a much greater appreciation for what they've received. They value it more. They know the person or people who they received it from and they know that these people made sacrifices in their own lives to help others. Besides valuing and appreciating what they have received, they have a sense of being loved and cared for by these people.
Someone who works for what they've received may have an even greater appreciation. Aside from appreciation and value though, they've put their own effort into it. Their self-esteem is improved because they have earned their livelihood themselves. They feel more a part of normal society.
Receiving assistance from those closer to us, relatives, individuals, and our church, also has the benefit of providing a lot more than just material assistance. Closer support often comes with assistance in better managing our lives and support for making better decisions.
And that animosity people feel toward the unappreciative poor? Here it is replaced by enthusiasm. People, even many grinchy kinds of people, enjoy helping those who are genuinely appreciative and who are working and doing their best to help themselves.
The upshot is that instead of people angry on one side that they're not getting enough handouts and people angry on the other that they're being taken advantage of, we have appreciation and enthusiasm. We have people working together.