The World Owes Me a Living…?

There is this that is so often said _ or supposed: “The world owes me a living.” But when the Creator gave man the earth He said, “…subdue it.” ¹ And subduing a world takes work. It was not intended that we should have everything without effort. Work is a blessing, an absolute essential.

And who or what is this world that is supposed to owe all of us everything? Surely parents owe children love and care and encouragement _ providing for and teaching and training. Surely children owe parents respect and love and kindly attention, and care, as may be needed _ especially later in life. No parent should be left in loneliness. And surely men owe other men compassionate service and assistance. But if when we speak of the world we are speaking of this wonderful plant we live on, we will find it very impersonal. And it will not produce everything for all of us _ or for any of us _ without work. But if when we say the world owes us a living, we are talking about people, this means all of us. And all of us owe it to ourselves to make the most of ourselves. And since there are always those who, in one way or another, are unable fully to care for themselves, we need to produce more than we consume, and everyone who can should do all he can. And it isn’t reasonable for anyone simply to sit down and say, “The world owes me a living.”

There is no magic about it. Someone has to think; someone has to plan; someone has to save; someone has to plow and plant; someone has to manage. Someone has to invent. Someone has to invest. Someone has to do everything. Everything has to be done. Nothing does itself.

Someone has to produce or pay for everything in one way or another. There is an exchange of values in all relationships of life, and instead of saying the world owes me a living, this could be a very good time to be grateful for being alive, for opportunity, and for the willingness to make the most of it.

“…For great and low there’s but one test

‘Tis that each one shall do his best,

Who works with all the strength he can,

Shall never die in debt to man.” ²