This is the survival tactic from the survival instinct of primitive man (really from the caveman era) before man was settled in a social setting and became a social being (marriage and family were the first institutions). The phrase sounds like what is shouted as the crew announces to abandon ship and the women and children have been evacuated, and now it's survival of the fittest. Look out for the old philosophy of "Look out for Number One!"
Today hermits are rare and it would take considerable survival skill to remain one in today's modern high-tech society. We are all interconnected and need each other--it really does take a village to raise a child in that a family cannot do it alone (Plato actually said that the state is better equipped to raise good citizens than the parents, but we believe in the sanctity of the family as having authority over the state). If you've ever seen the "preppers" on TV, you know what fending for oneself means, they must be trained and have reserves to withstand any type of disaster. Some of these types become highly fanatical and their primary drive in life is preparing for disaster as more than a hobbyhorse--it's an obsession to them showing lack of faith in God disguised as a veneer of human wisdom.
Is this type of philosophy biblical? The Word tells us to love our neighbor as ourselves and that means feeding him when he is hungry and sheltering him in our home if we can. This hardly describes a doctrine of taking care of yourself first and let the chips fall where they may. When the chips are down we must keep the faith in God that He will come through and keep on supplying our needs as He promised come what may! We have a higher calling and are held to a higher standard than the world. As Jesus said, "I was hungry and you gave me food...." Always remember, God is our Provider and He will see to it our legitimate needs are met.
We are responsible to take care of ourselves, but not at the expense of being exclusive and refusing to share God's blessings with others. God blesses us and saves us so that we can be a blessing (cf. Zech. 8:13). In summation: We are not for ourselves but for Christ; we let God be for us and we are about the Lord's business, not ours, each looking out for the interests of one another; what kind of ethics this demonstrates to others is the old "Iron Rule" of paganism whereby might made right.
Today hermits are rare and it would take considerable survival skill to remain one in today's modern high-tech society. We are all interconnected and need each other--it really does take a village to raise a child in that a family cannot do it alone (Plato actually said that the state is better equipped to raise good citizens than the parents, but we believe in the sanctity of the family as having authority over the state). If you've ever seen the "preppers" on TV, you know what fending for oneself means, they must be trained and have reserves to withstand any type of disaster. Some of these types become highly fanatical and their primary drive in life is preparing for disaster as more than a hobbyhorse--it's an obsession to them showing lack of faith in God disguised as a veneer of human wisdom.
Is this type of philosophy biblical? The Word tells us to love our neighbor as ourselves and that means feeding him when he is hungry and sheltering him in our home if we can. This hardly describes a doctrine of taking care of yourself first and let the chips fall where they may. When the chips are down we must keep the faith in God that He will come through and keep on supplying our needs as He promised come what may! We have a higher calling and are held to a higher standard than the world. As Jesus said, "I was hungry and you gave me food...." Always remember, God is our Provider and He will see to it our legitimate needs are met.
We are responsible to take care of ourselves, but not at the expense of being exclusive and refusing to share God's blessings with others. God blesses us and saves us so that we can be a blessing (cf. Zech. 8:13). In summation: We are not for ourselves but for Christ; we let God be for us and we are about the Lord's business, not ours, each looking out for the interests of one another; what kind of ethics this demonstrates to others is the old "Iron Rule" of paganism whereby might made right.
Caveat: We are not to be so concerned about our own welfare that we have little concern for others--this is self-preservation (a natural instinct) run amuck. Soli Deo Gloria!
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