The age-old question, “Does the end justify the means?” has gained new circulation with the financial meltdown of recent months.

The “end” that is being sought by the policy makers in Washington (and in capital cities around the world) is a return to something they want to call “normal”, which is really a return to people consuming more than they can afford, living off increasing levels of debt and struggling to finance a lifestyle that may no longer be within reach.

Anything short of this goal is proclaimed as economic disaster, something to be avoided at all costs.

And “all costs”, including the kind of bailouts and boondoggles that failed in the Great Depression and during the past two decades in Japan, are again being brought out to save the world’s economy.

Which brings us to the “means” part of the equation. We were already outraged that the big banks in the U.S. would use taxpayers’ money to pay multi-million dollar “bonuses” to the same executives whose incompetence led to multi-billion dollar losses, that other “bail-out” money was used for a posh executive retreat for AIG employees and that a further infusion of government funds led to a direct benefit of $20 billion to the treasury secretary’s former employer, Goldman Sachs.

Then in April we heard the testimony of the CEO of Bank of America saying that he was strong-armed into acquiring the huge debts of brokerage firm Merrill Lynch by none other than the treasury secretary, at the urging of the head of the Federal Reserve (denied immediately – but someone is lying).

The means does matter. We can’t achieve a positive outcome through corruption, deceit or injustice.

The contrast between the seemingly endless corruption of modern political systems (of all stripes) and the way God sets about to achieve his “ends” is remarkable. His desire is to see people of every culture and class, every race and ethnic background, experience forgiveness for the things we have done wrong in life and to know his love for each one of us.

To achieve that aim, he used neither manipulation nor coercion, but simply offered his love. He showed us that love through his son, Jesus Christ, who served others during his life, then offered the ultimate service and sacrifice by giving his life for us.

Throughout our lives we make choices, not only about what we want to achieve in life, but how we’re going to get there. There are lots of options, from manipulating and deceiving to loving and serving.

But the results aren’t the same. The difference is in the quality of relationships we have to enjoy throughout our lifetimes.

The people who will use other people in order to achieve their life’s ambitions may gain more personal power or monetary success, but not without paying a steep price in trust and goodwill.

For those who choose the path of loving and serving others, there are multiplied rewards, including friendships that last a lifetime.

Dave King is pastor of Silver Valley Community Church.