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Rome became a great power because her citizens were honest, single-minded men who worked hard, loved their country, governed it wisely and fought for it bravely. In its early days the little state was surrounded by enemies, and men would be called from their farms outside the city to defend it against the Volscians, the Samnites and other peoples who were their neighbors in the narrow peninsula of Italy.
One of the bravest of the early Romans was the farmer-statesman, Manius Curius Dentatus, who fought bravely against Rome's enemies when need arose. Humble by birth, he had won the esteem of his fellow-countrymen so that three times they elected him to the consulship, the highest office of the state, and twice gave him a triumph--a great honor for a Roman.
But when the fighting was over, Dentatus would go back to his farm, and work there with his own laborers in the fields until his country called for him again; for he was a man of sturdy, self-respecting character, living a simple country life. For him luxury and ease had no attraction.
It is said that the Samnites once sent messengers to him with valuable presents and much gold in the hope of bribing him over to their side. They found him seated beside his hearth cooking a meal of turnips in an earthen pan. When Dentatus saw the gold, he refused it with contemptuous laughter, saying that he would rather rule over those who lived in plenty than to be a possessor of wealth himself, and that he was neither to be overcome in battle nor bribed by money. So the Samnites, shamefaced, had to return home, carrying the presents they had brought.
It was men of this type who built up the great Roman Empire. In their hands the state was safe; but when love of gain and pleasure became the heart's desire of the Romans, their empire could stand no longer, but gradually fell apart.
Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their hearts; who, being past feeling, have given themselves over unto lasciviousness {wontoness, desires}, to work all uncleanness with greediness. Ephesians 4:18,19
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