Locke-ness monster

Locke states that human beings are given everything in the world, but also natural reason, to better their lives and do with the world as is fit for that purpose. The nature of human beings is to work for the purpose of improving their lives. Locke emphasizes that this is not a bad thing, that God actually commands us to work for this sake. The act of taking the gifts of nature and using them to our advantage is not stealing so long as we: 1) use the gifts of nature, and 2) have them be the product of our own labor. I, myself, have read about this concept. Some people may object that this brings out a selfish side of human beings, that they only are concerned with themselves. This is not the case. People should not have to be accused of corruption for working for their own success because they earned it. As in Genesis, God states, “by the sweat of your brow shall you work all the days of your life.” It is not an evil to be concerned first and foremost about oneself. This is the driving force in capitalism and in our modern day government. If, as Locke points out, humans did not exercise this aspect of human nature, all of Nature’s gifts would remain unutilized, and all the benefits of industry and technology would not exist. In short, attending to oneself also indirectly benefits all of society.
Resources, as Locke stresses, are practically limitless. He believes that even in his day that the world still has not been worked and tilled to its capacity. Even if one person drinks his fill of water, there is still a whole stream for everyone else. Locke cites Genesis; how God made the whole world for the purpose of man to utilize it. The bottom line is that there is enough for everyone’s needs, but people are stealing from mankind if they take more than can be beneficially used. The world and the environment is God’s gift to mankind, but, as Locke mentions, Nature is nothing compared to the value of labor. The objects of the world, if left untouched, are almost worthless. One needs to incorporate his own work into these objects in order for them to be of value. The world is like an investment. God gives the resources, but one has to labor for the fruits to be multiplied.