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BEN FRANKLIN: An Original American Patriot Ben Franklin was an original American Patriot.
A few months ago, I read a biography of his life.
He arrived in Philadelphia as young runaway apprentice from Boston, with
hardly a cent in his pocket. He
found work as a printer, and later wrote for a newspaper.
Eventually, he published his own newspaper. He organized his friends into a community-oriented group
called the Junto. They
improved life in Philadelphia with such new ideas as streetlights, a public
library, the first volunteer fire department, and “The Watch,” the city’s
first policemen. He was the
guiding spirit behind the beginning of the Pennsylvania Hospital and the
Philadelphia Academy which later became the Univ. of Penn. By 1745, in his mid-40s, Franklin was a successful,
moderately wealthy man. He owned
several rental houses. But Ben saw
no point in continuing to pile up more and more money. He called this “the pursuit of wealth to no purpose” and
told a story about it. One day he
visited a very wealthy Philadelphia friend who took him through his expensive
new house. The rooms were huge, and
each time Franklin asked him why he’d given himself so much space, the man
replied, “Because I can afford it.” But
to accumulate money and things with no purpose seemed senseless to Ben. Franklin concluded, that kind of empty life was not for
him. Instead, at age 42, he decided
to retire from business. He’d
recently hired a new printer who was very competent.
Ben offered him the chance to become a partner and run the business, if
he agreed to pay Franklin half the profits from the Penn. Gazette, Poor
Richard’s Almanac and the print shop for the next 20 years.
At the end of that time, he’d become the full owner of the business,
which he accepted. Franklin then invested his time in the mystery of
electricity. In 1750, he discovered
how to conduct electricity from lightning in the famous kite-flying in a
lightning storm, with a key on a string and a glass jar under it.
This led to his use of lightning rods on rooftops.
He did not try to patent his invention but gave to the world free.
After 4 years of working on electricity, he invented a battery. Ben also invented the Franklin Stove – the first
fireplace that kept most of its warm air in the room, instead of letting it
escape up the chimney. He was
elected as a representative to the Penn. Assembly, served as clerk of the Penn.
Assembly and helped to organize the colony’s first militia to protect Penn.
His experience in the colonial gov’t led him to begin to see the need
for the 13 colonies to unite and form a nation. In 1751, he was appointed Deputy Postmaster General for
Amer. He reduced the travel time
for a Boston-to-Philadelphia letter from 6 weeks to 3 weeks.
He ordered newspapers to print the names of people who had letters
waiting for them at the post office. In 1754, Ben joined other prominent Americans in a congress
in Albany, NY and proposed a plan of union, which was rejected by the colonists
and Great Britain. Ben spent much
of the next 20 years in London, where he became America’s spokesman.
The British rulers’ arrogance & corruption convinced him that a
separation was inevitable. When
a shooting war began in 1775, Ben was almost 70-years-old.
He came back from England and announced, “I am for independence.” In late 1776, he sailed to France where he became a master
diplomat who persuaded the French to sign a treaty of alliance to support the
American colonies. Historians agree
that the French forces changed the direction of the war, in America’s favor.
Back in America, at age 81, he persuaded the quarreling politicians from
13 barely united colonies to compromise and approve the Constitution. Ben Franklin was an original American patriot.
What impresses me the most about his life was his desire to bypass
purposeless wealth to improve his community and nation.
In his lifetime, people didn’t retire, but Ben did – not for a life
of comfort and travel, but to invest his time in inventions & service to
others. The purpose of his
inventions was not profit, but to improve people’s lives. Few, if any of us, have the combination of skills,
curiosity, and entrepreneurship that Franklin had. However, we all have opportunities to use our talents &
time to serve others and improve our community. In Matthew 20:26, Jesus said, “Instead, whoever wants to
become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must
be your slave – just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve
and give his life as a ransom for many.”
How are you serving others? In
Matt. 25: 14-30, Jesus told the story of the Talents. How are you using your talents for Jesus and His kingdom? On this 4th of July, give thanks for Ben Franklin’s selfless service to his community & nation. Then, be like Ben. Pastor Randy |