Will History Repeat Itself?

Here is a little parable that I want you to read. It is a parable that is true to us here in America. At the end, I will make some comments.

You have two families: "Joe Legal" and "Jose Illegal". Both families have two parents, two children, and live in California.

Joe Legal works in construction, has a Social Security Number and makes $25.00 per hour with taxes deducted.
Jose Illegal also works in construction, has NO Social Security Number, and gets paid $15.00 cash "under the table".

Ready? Now pay attention...

Joe Legal: $25.00 per hour x 40 hours = $1000.00 per week, or $52,000.00 per year. Now take 30% away for state and federal tax; Joe Legal now has $31,231.00.

Jose Illegal: $15.00 per hour x 40 hours = $600.00 per week, or $31,200.00 per year. Jose Illegal pays no taxes. Jose Illegal now has $31,200.00.

Joe Legal pays medical and dental insurance with limited coverage for his family at $600.00 per month, or $7,200.00 per year. Joe Legal now has $24,031.00.

Jose Illegal has full medical and dental coverage through the state and local clinics at a cost of $000 per year. Jose Illegal still has $31,200.00.

Joe Legal makes too much money and is not eligible for food stamps or welfare. Joe Legal pays $500.00 per month for food, or $6,000.00 per year. Joe Legal now has $18,031.00.
Jose Illegal has no documented income and is eligible for food stamps and welfare. Jose Illegal still has $31,200.00.

Joe Legal pays rent of $1,200.00 per month, or $14,400.00 per year. Joe Legal now has $9,631.00.

Jose Illegal receives a $500.00 per month federal rent subsidy. Jose Illegal pays $500.00 per month, or $6,000.00 per year. Jose Illegal still has $ 31,200.00.

Joe Legal pays $200.00 per month, or $2,400.00 for insurance. Joe Legal now has $7,231.00.

Jose Illegal says, "We don't need no stinkin' insurance!" and still has $31,200.00.

Joe Legal has to make his $7,231.00 stretch to pay utilities, gasoline, etc. Jose Illegal has to make his $31,200.00 stretch to pay utilities, gasoline, and what he sends out of the country every month.

Joe Legal now works overtime on Saturdays or gets a part time job after work.

Jose Illegal has nights and weekends off to enjoy with his family. Joe Legal's and Jose Illegal's children both attend the same school. Joe Legal pays for his children's lunches while Jose Illegal's children get a government sponsored lunch. Jose Illegal's children have an after school ESL program. Joe Legal's children go home.

Joe Legal and Jose Illegal both enjoy the same police and fire services, but Joe paid for them and Jose did not pay.

Comments: Later today, take your bible and read 1 Samuel chapter 8. The people of Israel demanded from Samuel a king. They had a king. His name was the Lord God and God was ruling well, but the motive for a king came as a result of wanting to be “like the other nations” (v. 20). There are some powerful people in congress and in the senate, not to mention the influential liberal media who want nothing more than for us to be like other socialistic nations, even those who have been ruled by communism. The days of referring to America has a Christian nation is becoming nothing more than mere noise and rhetoric. Let me ask you this: If the average Christian in your church was like America the way she is now, would you have a Christian church?

I digress, let’s move on. Notice the number of times the word “TAKE” is used in 1 Samuel chapter 8 by the king.

v. 11 – The king will “take” your sons and place them in his army fighting his wars – whichever ones he decides is worth fighting for.

v. 13 – The king will “take” your daughters and make them his servants.

v. 15 – The king will tax you and “take” a tenth of your hard earn rewards and now watch this – GIVE TO HIS OFFICERS AND TO HIS SERVANTS! What do we have here? Simply put: “Redistribution of wealth.”

v. 16 – The king will “take” your best employees and helpers and use them for his work.

V. 17 – The king will “take” (tax) a tenth of your flock (wealth), and YOU YOURSELVES WILL BECOME HIS SERVANTS. In other words, you will become dependent on the government and whoever is in charge.

Note: Being dependent on someone is not necessarily wrong. It all depends on who or what one becomes dependent on. Being dependent on God is a good thing and is crucial for success. Being dependent on man, government, welfare programs, etc., is not good in the long run. The difference? God wants us to be dependent on Him in order to grow and succeed. The government wants us to be dependent on it in order to see ourselves as "helpless victims." The key is the word "victim." Who or whatever turns your life and mindset into a victim mentality, that person or institution does not have your best interest in mind. God wants His people to become His slaves in order to "empower" them for greatness. The government or man in general wants you to become its slave in order to take away any power or freedom you might have. God gives to His people "gifts" in order for them to excel in the body of Christ or the church; government has nothing to give away that has not already been taken from others. I am not suggesting that having government is wrong. But like anything that sinful man wants to greedily corrupt, governments can either serve the people or make the people its slave. The bigger and more wealthier it becomes, the more authoritative and powerful it is.

Note: Remember, in the political arena, "talking is simply stealing performed legally."

After all this “taking” has occurred and the people lose their freedom, their families and their life as they once knew it, then what?

V. 18 – “Then you will CRY OUT in that day because of your king whom you have chosen for yourselves. . .”

How in the world did Israel get to this place? Verse 7: The Lord said to Samuel, “Listen the voice of the people in regards to all they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected ME from being king over them.”

History was written for our instruction and admonition. Will we be wise enough to listen, learn and change?