Did you know that unemployment kills far more people than the coronavirus? (see contrasting stats here and here). According to the following American Thinker article it does (see article). In fact, it kills far more ways than one:From the above AT article, the question is asked, "Why is it so important to work, anyway?" From the above article, here are three answers: It (1) fulfills creativity and inventiveness, (2) promotes self-esteem, and (3) provides an avenue for achievement and self-realization. Idleness never has been a part of God's plan for the productivity of mankind (see here, here, and here).
On the other side of the coin, according to the above AT article (1) Unemployment destroys lives and the mental and physical health of individuals and leads to higher suicide and crime rates, as well as poverty-related diseases; (2) It may cause civil unrest and disorder, catalyzing destructive processes within societies; (3) Mass and chronic unemployment results in or accompanies the development of undemocratic regimes that neglect and abuse individual rights and freedoms "for the greater good," which legitimizes their absolute power; (4) basic life requirements are met through work; (5) We satisfy our physiological needs by means of money that we make by performing publicly useful jobs resulting in bringing food to the table, paying bills, mortgages, travel expenses, and acquiring an education. In other words, maintaining some decent standard of living without having to depend on government handouts.
Unemployment also (6) creates stress by disturbing such important psychological elements as personal identity, time structuring, and self-esteem; (7) It may also disrupt social support networks through the loss of social relationships at work, the abandonment of hobbies and social life under financial pressure, and withdrawal from social interaction because of the stigma of being jobless; affects the family unit as well; (8) Children of an unemployed person have been found to experience digestive problems, irritability, and delayed physical and mental development. It has been explored that this may be due to the parent neglecting his parental duties, often due to depression; (9) Consider the toll unemployment takes on violent crime rates.
After reading all of the above nine descriptive points, the bottom line is that unemployment has a grievous effect on both individual and societal health (and I might add spiritual health as well - see here, here, here, and here). The simple solution is this godly solution.
---Mike Riley, Gospel Snippets
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