For society to function, its members have to do things for each other. In a fully functioning society, people will spend more time doing things for others, than doing things for themselves. If we only do things for ourselves, society will break down and stop functioning. There are only four ways to get another person to do something for another.
- Love
- Compassion
- Trade
- Force
This is the most powerful reason. If we love someone, we gladly do things for them, expecting nothing in return. We do things for our wives, husbands, children, and close friends simply for love. Love is powerful.
However, love does not travel very far. If a stranger asks us to do something for them for love, we are unlikely to be moved. Love is powerful, but it is reserved for a few people.
Compassion is also a powerful motivator. It is weaker than love, but it extends much further. When we see a child starving in Africa, compassion motivates us to give something to help, even though we will never meet the child. Compassion expects nothing in return.
Compassion is very important. Society cannot survive on trade alone. Compassion will provide for people who cannot cope with the world of trade. One great benefit of Christianity is that it strengthens the power of compassion. Compassion is a better motivator than force.
A good way of getting people to do things for others is through trade. I do something for a person, who does something for me. Trade is the most powerful tool for the organisation of society. Money extends the reach of trade. It removes the need for people with complimentary needs to meet each other. I give money to a person who does something for me in return. He can then use the money to get what he wants from someone else. Trade is a powerful mechanism for society. Most of what we enjoy and appreciate is produced and obtained through trade.
The final way to get someone else to do something for us is to use force. "Do this or I will beat you to pulp". Force is very effective. However, force does not strengthen the structure of society. Trade, compassion and love function much better than force. Force should be limited, because it limits freedom.
Our family and friendships are based on love. Helping relationships are based on compassion. Most of our everyday relationships are based on trade. Government is based on force.
The key feature of government is that it has power to coerce (force). We don't pay taxes to the government willingly out of love or compassion, but because of the sanctions it threatens.
The government can force young men to go to war. It can take wealth from one and give to another. Socialists want to run the world like families, with everyone doing everything for love or compassion. They don't want them to work and produce for what they can get in return. They want them to work hard for love of their fellow men. The problem is that love does not stretch that far. History and common sense show that people will not work for love. The result is that the socialist quickly replaces love with force. They end up forcing people to do what they think they should do. Human government uses Imposed Authority.
The Kingdom of God is not based on force. God prefers to receive authority from below (Free Authority). Therefore, the primary motivators for social interaction will be love, compassion and trade. The family is based on love. The church functions on compassion and mercy. Business is based on trade. This is why business is important in the Kingdom of God. Business and the marketplace are the place where people do things for others to get something in return.
Leaders and Managers
A person becomes a manager when another person with authority appoints them.
A leader emerges when people agree freely to follow him.
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