Hi Friend,

One of the unique blessings of American citizenship is the rich heritage left by the Pilgrims who landed on Plymouth Rock. There is a good reason these first settlers instituted a Thanksgiving celebration—and it’s much different than schools are teaching.

The good intentions that accompanied the majority of the early colonists were not always combined with diligent effort.  Hardship followed hardship. The first winter 50 per cent of the colonists died including the wife of Governor William Bradford.

Things didn’t improve much for those that survived. The next problem was with the colonists themselves. Several were lazy and would not work. Some were thieves. In his “History of the Plymouth Plantation” Bradford reported that the colonists went hungry because they refused to work in the fields. The food that was grown was stolen by other colonists. They soon learned that it was easier to steal from a brother than work in the field, so thieves abounded, and food was scarce.

For the first few years they lived with famine and death.

Then something changed. In 1623 “instead of famine now God gave them plenty,” Bradford wrote, “and the face of things was changed, to the rejoicing of the hearts of many, for which they blessed God.”  Thereafter, he wrote, “any general want or famine hath not been amongst them since to the day.”  In fact, in 1624, so much food was produced that the colonists were able to export corn.

What change occurred that produced these bountiful results?

Prior to 1623 the colonists used a communistic economic system. That is, “all profits & benefits that are got by trade, working, fishing, or any other means” wrote William Bradford, were placed in the common stock of the colony and each colonist would draw from it as he needed. On the face this seemed like a workable and fair arrangement.

But it never worked. In fact, it only encouraged laziness and theft causing Bradford to look for a biblical model.

The example Bradford found was exemplified by the Year of Jubilee that was proclaimed in Israel every fiftieth year. (Exodus 25) It was the time when all property was returned to the owner. No matter how badly a man had mismanaged, how incompetent he had been or how much of a sluggard, or when such a man lost all the family possessions, his children were offered a chance to start over. The family could have a new beginning.

In ancient Israel God had shown that the core for a new beginning was the right of the individual to own private property. God returned the lost property to the family so the children could have an opportunity to start over.  Private ownership of property carried with it an obligation to be responsible for its production.

Bradford realized that the example of ancient Israel entering the Promised Land was what God intended for the founding of America. Each man should have his own land and live under his own vine and his own fig tree. (Micah 4:4) The Bible contained the answer for ancient Israel as well as for modern America.

In 1623 Bradford gave each household a parcel of land and told them they could keep what they produced or trade it away as they saw fit. In other words, he replaced the communistic system with a free market enterprise system, and that was the end of famines.

The turning point for America was the recognition of the biblical concept that each man should own his own property, which created a sense of responsibility and reliance on God. From then on, the colonists prospered.

When a man looks to other men to supply his need—especially a government—he inevitably ends up with little. When men look to God, the result is a bounty of blessings. Let us join with the early Pilgrims to celebrate a day of Thanksgiving to God for the blessings He has given.

Until next time,

Jim O’Brien