I saw a reel recently that showed how a children’s book was used to explain to adults why socialism/ communism was bad and doesn’t work. As the book was read to them, everyone understood the point and agreed. Essentially, giving things to people who never earned it isn’t fair. Unfortunately, I couldn’t find the specific book to put it in the MHM bookstore, but the concepts within the book are well known. The best example is of course, The Little Red Hen.
The Little Red Hen
If you’re not familiar with it, the Little Red Hen wants to make some bread. She asks her friends to help, but none of them do. They were all too busy (or lazy) doing other things. So she goes and does everything herself to prepare to make the bread. She continues to ask if they would help as she gathers all the ingredients, and they continue to tell her nope, they won’t help. Finally when she is actually baking the bread, all of her friends are ready to help her eat the bread. She asks them, “But did any of you help me make the bread? No, you didn’t. So you don’t get to have any of the bread.” Then she eats up all of the bread.
Harsh?
This goes against so much of what our culture tells us today. Especially in the church, if we’re being honest. Of course, this story actually makes perfect sense. The Little Red Hen has every right to eat the bread she worked so hard to make! But I know, personally, the first time I read this, I thought to myself, “That sounds a little harsh.”
We need to keep in mind, it’s one thing if someone can’t help for whatever reason. Then that would be a different story. But each of the friends of the Little Red Hen didn’t have that excuse. They just chose not to help because they weren’t “feeling” it.
In today’s world, what the Little Red Hen did would be framed as selfish. Think I’m exaggerating? There’s a spin-off of The Little Red Hen that emphasizes “sharing.” It’s called, “The Little Red Hen (Makes a Pizza).” Again, none of the friends help, but they all want to help with eating once everything has already been done. The Little Red Hen tells her friends they can have some only if they help, but they don’t. The Little Red Hen then shares the pizza anyway. However after eating the pizza the friends have a change of heart. They end up helping with the clean up. As one reviewer put it, this is a “Revisionist Version That Distorts The Important Life Lesson In The Classic Childs Tale.”
Numbers 14
This reminded me of the Israelites in Numbers 14. They refused to obey the LORD and go into the promised land. In this case, the Israelites chose fear over obedience (or more generally, choosing what’s easy over what’s right). The LORD was ready to kill all of them, but Moses and Aaron stepped in and begged for their forgiveness. The LORD forgave them, but promised none of them would go into the promised land. Afterwards, the people mourned but some of the men decided they’d now go to the promised land and fight. Moses warned them not to go, but they went anyway and of course, were utterly defeated.
Natural Consequences
In “The Little Red Hen (Makes a Pizza)” the friends helped clean up afterward. But at that point, the work had all been done. The point was to help before, not after everything was done. Just like the Israelites who wanted to obey whenever they felt like it (rather than when the LORD told them to), they were not blessed for their delayed obedience. Neither should the friends in the revised Little Red Hen story.
The Little Red Hen (Makes a Pizza) completely negates the main lesson and any consequence for their choices. There is always grace and mercy in Christ, praise the LORD. God showed mercy to His people in Numbers 14 by not wiping them off the face of the earth immediately. But there are also natural consequences to not doing what is right. The classic story beautifully illustrates this concept. Numbers 14 also shows the natural consequences of not doing what’s right. But the revised Little Red Hen story skirts right over this.
Is it any wonder that the youth in our country are mesmerized with socialism? Everyone wants to eat the fruit of the hard work of others, but few want to do what is necessary to either do the hard work of creating that fruit or to create their own fruit. Too many of us feel entitled to what others have. Clearly, more people need to read The Little Red Hen.
Is it Christ-like sharing when it’s compulsory?
I remember having an online discussion several years ago with someone from our church who insisted that Jesus would agree with the State taking our money and giving it to whomever they deemed to need it. But here’s the rub – Jesus would want us to give, but voluntarily. He doesn’t force us to accept Him, nor would He force us to even obey Him. We do it because we want to not because we have to. Not by compulsion, which is what the government often does. And this is exactly what the Little Red Hen (Makes a Pizza) communicates – You don’t have to work for it, you’ll get it anyway.
For example, what is currently happening in NYC would have our forefathers heads spinning. Socialism was tried, and it failed miserably. Just read William Bradford: Plymouth’s Faithful Pilgrim for one example (besides Cuba, Venezuela, Soviet Union, etc., but I digress).
The OG Little Red Hen
The original Little Red Hen is a great book for youngers (and olders!) to understand the basics behind the truth of “rugged individualism” (generally, capitalism) being far superior over collectivism (i.e. few doing the work, but everyone equally benefiting from the fruit of that work). Just an easy way to demonstrate in a very simplified way the realities and truth of why capitalism may not be perfect, but it is the most fair economic system available.
In an imperfect world, we must use the tools that are available to us. And it’s clearly the best we have.
If only more NYC voters read the Little Red Hen, maybe they would have voted more wisely! Who knows. It may be too late for them at this point, but it’s not too late for your family! Get yourself a copy today! And learn more about the history of the Pilgrims and their experience with socialism in Plymouth’s Faithful Pilgrim! If those pious Pilgrims couldn’t make it work, there is no way on earth anyone could.
Click on the images below to purchase The Little Red Hen or Plymouth’s Faithful Pilgrim!
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