Are We Not All Beggars? - College Composition Assignment

I hear an abundance of complaints concerning the welfare systems of the United States, and perhaps I have even made some. While I do believe it has gotten out of hand in some instances, allowing people to not try to work, and sustaining capable individuals only looking for a handout, is it ever our place to judge?

In Mosiah chapter 4 verse 16, King Benjamin, also the Prophet of the time, counsels his people to succor those that stand in need of succor, administer your substance to those that stand in need, and suffer not that the beggar putteth up his petition in vain. Then in verse 17 it says, "Perhaps thou shalt say: The man has brought upon himself this misery..."

This is a commonly heard statement today from those too selfish to be charitable, "He isn't even trying to work," or "He got to that place through drugs and alcohol," or "It is his own fault." In verse 18, those who talk such are corrected by King Benjamin saying, "O man, whosoever doeth this, the same hath great cause to repent, or he perish forever and hath no interest in the Kingdom of God."
We are commanded and counseled time and time again by ancient prophets in the scriptures, and modern prophets today, to succor, to give, and to administer. Through serving our fellow men, we in turn serve the Lord and show him how grateful we are for the lives that we have.

While the welfare systems of our country may be frustrating, and some people take advantage of those who are willing to give to freely, we are still commanded to give. In verse 19, King Benjamin says, "Behold are we not all beggars? Do we not depend upon the same being, even God, for all the substance which we have, for both food and raiment, and for gold and for silver, and for all the riches which we have of every kind?...And has he suffered that we have begged in vain? Nay, He has poured out his spirit upon you, and doth grant you whatsoever ye ask that is right, in faith, believing  that ye shall receive. O then, how ye ought to impart of the substance that ye have one to another."

Our government and economy is bound to collapse, and in that time, all we will have left is each other, and our God. I know it is not always easy to give, especially when the future is uncertain, and it will be harder to give then, but let me leave you with one last word from Kind Benjamin. - "How must more just will be your condemnation for withholding your substances, which doth not belong to you, but to God... Oh man, remember and perish not."