One Prayer, Two Different Answers

Things are going poorly here. My wife and my children are suffering. The roof leaks, there is a chilling wind blowing through the cracks, there is no fuel to heat the house. the food is nearly gone, I have lost my job. I'm behind in my car payments. My credit cards are maxed out. The bank is about to foreclose on my house. What I am going to do? Will you get me a job, or help me win the lottery, or strike gold, or some thing like that?

The answer from the gods in Washington: You poor man. Let us help you. We will mail you a check each month that you can use to pay your day to day living expenses. We will forgive you of any debts that you might have. We will get your house back or give you another house. If for some reason you miss a payment, we will make the payment for you. We have a way where you can get food at no or little cost. We will pay any medical or hospital expense that you might have. You have nothing to fear. We will take a little from everybody so we can help you and other people like you.

The answer from God in Heaven: I hear your prayer and I truly understand how you feel. I went through much worse things than that when I walked among men. I could easily give you a job, provide you with a house, or donate to you all of the money that you need. But you are not on this earth to have things easy. You are here to learn, to help, to see how well you can do on your own, and to see how well you deal with the problems that come to you.

There are some people because of their abilities, hard work, inspiration, or good luck have acquired much more than they need. It is from them that I require of their own free will, to help the poor and needy. It is not the job or responsibility of one person or institution to take from one and give to another.