Basic Economics

For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we were not idle when we were with you, nor did we eat anyone's bread without paying for it, but with toil and labor we worked night and day. II Thessalonians 3:7,8
This simple truth is home base when it comes to every area of economics: the home, the church, the community, the nation.  To be sure there are "exceptions" to the rule - the scriptures list many.  But when the exceptions become the rule, then we are too far from home base.  Everyone needs to do their part: every family member needs to pitch in with chores; every church member needs to his/her gifts and talents for the work of the body; every community member needs to see themselves as contributing to the whole, and not see the community as "owing" them.