Godliness makes a nation great

Proverbs 14:34 (NLT)

34 Godliness makes a nation great, but sin is a disgrace to any people.

When the administration of the government is concerned with righteousness; when there is impartiality between people; when the nation protects and preserves those who are virtuous; when there is charity and compassion; these are the marks of a Godly nation. However when sin rules a county it forces disgrace upon the people and the nation loses favor with God.

Gregg Zoroya writes:

When Iraq's war against Iran was faltering in the early 1980s, Saddam Hussein startled his cabinet with a seemingly uncharacteristic request. He sought advice, encouraging the assembled ministers to speak freely.

Health Minister Riyadh Ahmed took Saddam at his word and suggested that he temporarily step down to appease the Iranian religious leader, Ayatollah Khomeini. A peace agreement would be secured and Saddam could later return to power. Saddam thanked Ahmed and then ordered his arrest. The minister was sent home to his wife in pieces, the remains stuffed into a black canvas bag.

It was a classic bit of Saddam stagecraft—tricking a lieutenant into confessing doubt, then sending the chilling message to other advisors that only servile loyalty would be tolerated. [Gregg Zoroya, "Will Saddam Decide to Disarm—or Fight?" USA Today (11-25-02)]

Tomorrow is the celebration of the independence of this nation. In the Virginia Declaration of Rights written by Thomas Jefferson the first declaration says: That all men are by nature equally free and independent and have certain inherent rights, of which, when they enter into a state of society, they cannot, by any compact, deprive or divest their posterity; namely, the enjoyment of life and liberty, with the means of acquiring and possessing property, and pursuing and obtaining happiness and safety.

After several other articles about government responsibilities, freedoms and rights the document ends with this  declaration:  That religion, or the duty which we owe to our Creator, and the manner of discharging it, can be directed only by reason and conviction, not by force or violence; and therefore all men are equally entitled to the free exercise of religion, according to the dictates of conscience; and that it is the mutual duty of all to practise Christian forbearance, love, and charity toward each other.

Our forefathers understood the importance of God in our lives and in our country just as Solomon knew so long ago. Without God we become a disgrace and His favor is withdrawn from our nation.