The Means of War
The Means of War
The Means of War
The Means of War
Today, more than ever, people confuse means for ends. Means, by definition, are actions or resources that help achieve — or lead to — an end.
Today, more than ever, people confuse means for ends. Means, by definition, are actions or resources that help achieve — or lead to — an end. To demonstrate this truth, ask yourself, what were the last three or four things that kept you up at night?
Have you been worried about money, retirement accounts, a job, a position, a home, a car, the price of gas, what to wear, what to eat, or new technology? Have you been anxious about your reputation, status, comfort, or career path? All these things are means.
Perhaps your concern lately has been for other people including family, neighbors, coworkers, those who are suffering in your city, or those suffering around the world? Maybe you have even been concerned about your own soul.
People are true ends, including you. Yet, far too often, we see people as a means to an end. Focusing on means leads people to unnecessary conflict. When nations are overly focused on means it leads to war.
A War For Means
The Russian invasion of Ukraine is a tragic war using people as a means to the ends of the state in ways that are both eye opening and horrific.
As humans, our hearts break for those who are suffering, the families being separated, those who are bloodied and beaten, and those who are losing their lives and loved ones all because Russia wants Ukraine’s territory, resources, and the submission of the people — all means of course.
So far there have been over 2,000,000 people displaced, millions separated from their families, over 300,000 held hostage, thousands injured, and over 13,000 (close to 12,000 are Russian soldiers) killed. All of this should greatly disturb us and lead us to prayer and action.
Can Means End War?
Life and war are full of ironies. One could easily argue that Russia’s war on Ukraine is all about means, and the nations of the west (US and Europe) have the means to stop the war — if they can muster the fortitude to care less about their own nation's means.
Since the invasion, the news has been full of war experts, politicians, and commentators suggesting that cutting off exports of oil and natural gas as well, as all economic ties, could end the war by causing increased conflict within Russia regarding their economy — their means. Lack of foregin funds could cause so much internal conflict in Russia over personal means that there would be lack of resolve to continue the war. Today, the United States made a huge step in this direction.
Wouldn’t worldwide, national, and personal economic sacrifice be worth it to save lives on both sides? Doesn’t it make more sense to suffer economically instead of being in the ironic place we find ourselves today — supplying arms to Ukraine while we supply cash to Russia for energy and other means?
People Are Never Means
As we pray and give support to those directly impacted by the war, we are given a chance to look at our own lives and see the disorder, conflict, and anxiety that we cause when we place means before ends in our daily life and work.
Treating someone as a means is treating someone as a tool to achieve a personal or collective goal. In other words, when you treat someone solely as a means, you treat them as if they only have instrumental value — the person only has value insofar as they help you achieve your goals. Their value as a person does not exist independently of your goals. Without your goals that person has no value to you.
We all are guilty of treating people as means in simple and complex ways at work. When we are not kind to a coworker because we perceive that they stand in the way of something we are trying to achieve, we are treating them as a means.
When we manipulate people to achieve personal or corporate sales goals through misleading information or over promising advertising, we are treating people as a means.
When we see a person that works with us just a body (or mind) to help achieve an end, we are using that person who is made in the image of God for our own ends. The same is true when we flatter a boss in order to get a promotion. Yes, it’s just as evil to treat a boss as a means as it is to treat a co-worker or employee as a means. Anytime we treat a person as a means, we fuel a spiritual war between souls.
The words of Jesus are clear. We do not need the means that we incessantly seek, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” - Matthew 6:19-21
Ultimate Ends
Jesus tells us to seek His kingdom and His righteousness (Matthew 6:33). When we seek and find His kingdom, we learn to risk our means to help our family members, coworkers, and neighbors find the love of Jesus. The Apostle Paul surrendered his means that others might join him in God’s kingdom, “I try to please everyone in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved.” - 1 Corinthians 10:33. God gives us means for us to bring people to better ends.
What if this tragic war can help us see every human as someone made in the image of God? Seeing the needless loss of life should remind us to stop seeking our own selfish ambition and renew our life’s purpose by looking out for the life interests of others (Philippians 2:3-4).
A Good Example In Time Of War
We find heroic examples in the 70,000 Ukrainian nationals who are returning to Ukraine to live — and even die — for others. Most of those going back found better lives for themselves in Poland, other parts of Europe, and the United States. They found a life full of means, but now they are compelled to go back to Ukraine. One man who has been living in Portland says he must go back to help, “A lot of my friends are volunteers, in the territorial defense force. I can help them, because I know them, I told them I can bring what you need when you need it. So I’ve gotten a list of supplies of what they need,” he said. - Sergey Korenev ‘I can help them’: one man’s journey from Portland to Ukraine’s frontlines published by The Guardian.
The article goes on to outline how Sergey Korenev knows how to use his means, and even his life, to help others achieve their ends. “First he’s taking $9,000 in donations from the Ukrainian community in Oregon. He’s flying to New York to pick up some more donations from friends in the Ukrainian community there. Then, he’s flying to Warsaw, Poland, to cross the border over land. His second objective is to get to Kyiv as fast as possible to find his mother and get her to safety. He hopes to get her out of the country. His final objective is to help win a war. ‘I’m going there to help my friends, they are my brothers in arms.’ Sergey said.”
A Perfect Savior
Sergey is leaving the safety of Portland to risk his life for his Ukrainian brothers and sisters so that they might live in freedom. Jesus leaving heaven is an infinitely greater sacrifice that provides freedom and abundant life that lasts forever. “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich” - 2 Corinthians 8:9. When Christ left heaven, not considering equality with God something to be used for His advantage, taking on human form, suffering to the point of death, even death on a cross, He made a Way for us (Philippians 2:6-8). “Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” - Philippians 2:9-11.
The life, death, and resurrection of Jesus provide the greatest means the world has ever known to make a way for sinners like us to reach our end in eternity (2 Corinthians 5:21). Let’s not waste our life seeking our own means. Let’s not create more fuel for war. Let’s take all of our means and all of our life and put them towards the ends of others. Living this way is our proper response to the mercies of God (Romans 12:1).
To know how to pray and give to churches supporting refugees in Ukraine — click here — https://www.mtw.org/ukraine-crisis#ukraine-give-box
Today, more than ever, people confuse means for ends. Means, by definition, are actions or resources that help achieve — or lead to — an end. To demonstrate this truth, ask yourself, what were the last three or four things that kept you up at night?
Have you been worried about money, retirement accounts, a job, a position, a home, a car, the price of gas, what to wear, what to eat, or new technology? Have you been anxious about your reputation, status, comfort, or career path? All these things are means.
Perhaps your concern lately has been for other people including family, neighbors, coworkers, those who are suffering in your city, or those suffering around the world? Maybe you have even been concerned about your own soul.
People are true ends, including you. Yet, far too often, we see people as a means to an end. Focusing on means leads people to unnecessary conflict. When nations are overly focused on means it leads to war.
A War For Means
The Russian invasion of Ukraine is a tragic war using people as a means to the ends of the state in ways that are both eye opening and horrific.
As humans, our hearts break for those who are suffering, the families being separated, those who are bloodied and beaten, and those who are losing their lives and loved ones all because Russia wants Ukraine’s territory, resources, and the submission of the people — all means of course.
So far there have been over 2,000,000 people displaced, millions separated from their families, over 300,000 held hostage, thousands injured, and over 13,000 (close to 12,000 are Russian soldiers) killed. All of this should greatly disturb us and lead us to prayer and action.
Can Means End War?
Life and war are full of ironies. One could easily argue that Russia’s war on Ukraine is all about means, and the nations of the west (US and Europe) have the means to stop the war — if they can muster the fortitude to care less about their own nation's means.
Since the invasion, the news has been full of war experts, politicians, and commentators suggesting that cutting off exports of oil and natural gas as well, as all economic ties, could end the war by causing increased conflict within Russia regarding their economy — their means. Lack of foregin funds could cause so much internal conflict in Russia over personal means that there would be lack of resolve to continue the war. Today, the United States made a huge step in this direction.
Wouldn’t worldwide, national, and personal economic sacrifice be worth it to save lives on both sides? Doesn’t it make more sense to suffer economically instead of being in the ironic place we find ourselves today — supplying arms to Ukraine while we supply cash to Russia for energy and other means?
People Are Never Means
As we pray and give support to those directly impacted by the war, we are given a chance to look at our own lives and see the disorder, conflict, and anxiety that we cause when we place means before ends in our daily life and work.
Treating someone as a means is treating someone as a tool to achieve a personal or collective goal. In other words, when you treat someone solely as a means, you treat them as if they only have instrumental value — the person only has value insofar as they help you achieve your goals. Their value as a person does not exist independently of your goals. Without your goals that person has no value to you.
We all are guilty of treating people as means in simple and complex ways at work. When we are not kind to a coworker because we perceive that they stand in the way of something we are trying to achieve, we are treating them as a means.
When we manipulate people to achieve personal or corporate sales goals through misleading information or over promising advertising, we are treating people as a means.
When we see a person that works with us just a body (or mind) to help achieve an end, we are using that person who is made in the image of God for our own ends. The same is true when we flatter a boss in order to get a promotion. Yes, it’s just as evil to treat a boss as a means as it is to treat a co-worker or employee as a means. Anytime we treat a person as a means, we fuel a spiritual war between souls.
The words of Jesus are clear. We do not need the means that we incessantly seek, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” - Matthew 6:19-21
Ultimate Ends
Jesus tells us to seek His kingdom and His righteousness (Matthew 6:33). When we seek and find His kingdom, we learn to risk our means to help our family members, coworkers, and neighbors find the love of Jesus. The Apostle Paul surrendered his means that others might join him in God’s kingdom, “I try to please everyone in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved.” - 1 Corinthians 10:33. God gives us means for us to bring people to better ends.
What if this tragic war can help us see every human as someone made in the image of God? Seeing the needless loss of life should remind us to stop seeking our own selfish ambition and renew our life’s purpose by looking out for the life interests of others (Philippians 2:3-4).
A Good Example In Time Of War
We find heroic examples in the 70,000 Ukrainian nationals who are returning to Ukraine to live — and even die — for others. Most of those going back found better lives for themselves in Poland, other parts of Europe, and the United States. They found a life full of means, but now they are compelled to go back to Ukraine. One man who has been living in Portland says he must go back to help, “A lot of my friends are volunteers, in the territorial defense force. I can help them, because I know them, I told them I can bring what you need when you need it. So I’ve gotten a list of supplies of what they need,” he said. - Sergey Korenev ‘I can help them’: one man’s journey from Portland to Ukraine’s frontlines published by The Guardian.
The article goes on to outline how Sergey Korenev knows how to use his means, and even his life, to help others achieve their ends. “First he’s taking $9,000 in donations from the Ukrainian community in Oregon. He’s flying to New York to pick up some more donations from friends in the Ukrainian community there. Then, he’s flying to Warsaw, Poland, to cross the border over land. His second objective is to get to Kyiv as fast as possible to find his mother and get her to safety. He hopes to get her out of the country. His final objective is to help win a war. ‘I’m going there to help my friends, they are my brothers in arms.’ Sergey said.”
A Perfect Savior
Sergey is leaving the safety of Portland to risk his life for his Ukrainian brothers and sisters so that they might live in freedom. Jesus leaving heaven is an infinitely greater sacrifice that provides freedom and abundant life that lasts forever. “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich” - 2 Corinthians 8:9. When Christ left heaven, not considering equality with God something to be used for His advantage, taking on human form, suffering to the point of death, even death on a cross, He made a Way for us (Philippians 2:6-8). “Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” - Philippians 2:9-11.
The life, death, and resurrection of Jesus provide the greatest means the world has ever known to make a way for sinners like us to reach our end in eternity (2 Corinthians 5:21). Let’s not waste our life seeking our own means. Let’s not create more fuel for war. Let’s take all of our means and all of our life and put them towards the ends of others. Living this way is our proper response to the mercies of God (Romans 12:1).
To know how to pray and give to churches supporting refugees in Ukraine — click here — https://www.mtw.org/ukraine-crisis#ukraine-give-box