Proverbs 29:4 A just king gives stability to his nation, but one who demands bribes destroys it.
My work brings me to a lot of different locations throughout my province. I have been listening to a lot of frustrated people over the last few months. Their patience and trust in our governing officials to bring the pandemic to a close has brought out some warranted and unwarranted criticism of what is being done. Some of the criticism has been justified because of the confusing messaging coming from the authorities. People’s hearts feel like the decisions being made for their future health, are wrapped up in a system of pork-belly politics, graft, and double-dealing. Therefore, what is the point of expecting any hopeful changes? Negative thoughts only lead to more negative thinking, which ends up promoting a general feeling that our whole world system is corrupt and works off bribes and backroom deals.
I can understand these feelings and why the enemy of our soul would want us to focus on them. When a person does not have an eternal hope, they are left with what they see all around them. If we are in Christ, then we have a greater assurance than having to trust in any government. We belong to the King of kings and the Lord of lords who reigns on our behalf. We are blessed to be able to enter into God’s perfect peace. It would be a frightful way to live, only trusting in a bureaucratic salvation plan, as so many do.
No wonder God asks us to pray for the leaders of the world.1Tim. 2:1 First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgiving be made for everyone, 2 for kings and all those who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. Even though many world leaders have a hubristic attitude that says, “They do not need God’s help,” we know that mankind needs all the divine assistance it can get. Our leaders need authentic and honest help. They need prayer and the wisdom of God to bring us the deliverance we need at this time and the real solutions that people are looking for.
During this last year of viral chaos, many citizens have gone through some hard trials. Everyone has felt that we have been tested to the point that family members have risen against siblings and friends against friends. This corrosive anger has become very noticeable in all mediums of communication. When nothing is moving forward because of bureaucratic ineptness, the exasperation within people’s hearts can be overwhelming as everyone is feeling betrayed on some level. The instability the nations are managing their countries under is causing a helter-skelter of quick fixes that do not work and produce fear worldwide. Prov. 29:4a A just king gives stability to his nation.
We have all formed opinions on how the world’s governments have responded to the worldwide pandemic. It does not matter what side of the innumerable arguments we find ourselves on, we have all formed opinions whether right or wrong. In most cases, we feel like our government leaders want us to carry their bags of fear and fright. Their continual empty promises of “Soon everything will be back to normal” have become irksome to our soul because we keep hearing over and over their newest claim of resolving their self-made mess. Then, we find out it is only a recap, a repeat, and more regurgitated claims of supposed success. Prov. 13:12a Hope delayed makes the heart sick.
It is not their fault. These people have a limited understanding of the events that are going on. Most of these elected representatives are reading off a transparent display monitor what a scriptwriter has laid out for these talking heads to say. We are looking for answers from those who do not have any, and we are getting a belly full of bureaucratic constipation for our troubles. Jer. 17:5 This is what the LORD says: “Cursed are those who put their trust in mere humans, who rely on human strength and turn their hearts away from the LORD.
We can serve God by praying for our governments. We can choose to stay ahead of the nonsensical rhetoric that is showing up ad-nauseam on all communication platforms. We can ask God to enlighten our next step to take during these confusing times by offering intercessory prayer. This is how we will become a voice of reason and blessings. God knows what to do. However, we will have to take the time to ask Him what to do and how to do it, rather than running around like the rest of the world with a mouth full of useless and none-effectual slogans.
In Christ, we are not led by a fearful spirit, but rather, by God’s spirit of faith, which gives us the gift of living without fear and with a sound mind. 2Tim. 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. We do not have to get on the world’s train to destruction just because everyone else is climbing aboard. Keep your hearts and minds focused on the Lord. God will surely deliver us from the mess we have witnessed throughout the last year. Psalm 91:7 Though a thousand fall at your side and ten thousand at your right hand, the pestilence will not reach you.
Prov. 29:4 A just king gives stability to his nation, but one who demands bribes destroys it. Those who demand bribes within our government to push the agendas that the interest groups promote will answer to God. There is no bureaucratic constipation going on in the kingdom of God. The Lord is the only honest and true judge who can be relied upon to guide us through this worldwide disease. Let the Lord instruct our going and coming as we move forward in His love. Peace belongs to the people of God, so let us minister from that place of blessing. Amen!
Jeremiah 15:5 summed it up. If we put our trust in people, we will continue to fail. We need to keep our eyes and hearts focused on the Lord and we will succeed. Good word, friend. Thank you.