What would make Europe, Ukraine, Russia or America great?
By Jeff Fountain - Posted at Evangelical Focus:
Great nations are marked by justice, not mere strength. They respect truth rather than propaganda. They cultivate responsibility alongside freedom. They produce citizens who understand that rights and duties belong together.Any nation, big or small, can become a great nation.
Some nations think they are great, or strive to restore ‘greatness’. But what really makes a nation great? Military power? Economic wealth? Territorial size? Technological achievement?Many nations and empires through the centuries boasted all these things and yet became a curse to themselves and to others. Ancient Rome, Napoleonic France, the British Empire, Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union all reached extraordinary heights of power. Yet none provides a sufficient definition of greatness.
Many confuse greatness with dominance – with being powerful, envied, feared or obeyed.
Jesus offered a radically different definition of greatness. Once, when his disciples were arguing about who was greatest, Jesus said, ’Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant.’
Greatness, Jesus implied, is measured not by how many people serve you but by how many people you serve. Leadership becomes stewardship. Authority becomes responsibility. Power becomes a means of serving others rather than controlling them.
This principle applies to nations as well as to individuals. A nation becomes truly great not when it dominates others, but when it develops the character and institutions that enable its people to flourish while contributing to the common good of humanity.
Many confuse greatness with dominance – with being powerful, envied, feared or obeyed.
Jesus offered a radically different definition of greatness. Once, when his disciples were arguing about who was greatest, Jesus said, ’Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant.’
Greatness, Jesus implied, is measured not by how many people serve you but by how many people you serve. Leadership becomes stewardship. Authority becomes responsibility. Power becomes a means of serving others rather than controlling them.
This principle applies to nations as well as to individuals. A nation becomes truly great not when it dominates others, but when it develops the character and institutions that enable its people to flourish while contributing to the common good of humanity.
