The inability of two political parties to reach agreement on significant financial matters has shaken the confidence of many people in this country. Even as an eleventh hour solution is brokered, the fickleness and stubbornness of human leadership is all too apparent.
I personally believe that people get the leadership they deserve - good or bad. Judah and Israel's history is punctuated with such descriptive phrases as, "He did evil in the sight of the LORD ... Judah did evil in the sight of the LORD ... he did what was right in the sight of the LORD" ... etc. Leaders rose to power who was were consistent with the spiritual climate of the day. Like people, like leadership. Like leadership, like people.
Someone has said that the lessons from history are that we don't learn from history. Inevitably, every experiment in human government has ultimately failed. Whether malevolent dictatorship or benevolent democracy, each system is ultimately short-lived. This is nowhere better illustrated than in the vivid image ancient king Nebuchadnezzar saw in a nighttime dream (Daniel 2). The metallic and mud image of a man, as Daniel revealed to him through inspiration of God's Spirit, represented the major governmental powers of human history. Most significant is the end result: "In the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which will never be destroyed, and that kingdom will not be left for another people; it will crush and put an end to all these kingdoms, but it will itself endure forever." (Daniel 2:44).
Investing in lost causes is unwise. Why would anyone continue to pour money into company stock that continues to devalue? And yet, if we pledge undue allegiance to any human government we have done just that. An ambitious experiment in political reform by evangelical Christians - the Religious Right - is now a footnote in history. But, those who clearly see their biblical responsibility to government continue to pray for their leaders (1 Timothy 2:1-4), pay taxes (Romans 13:6), and submit to its authority (Romans 13:1).
Investment in government that will last is of utmost priority to the follower of Christ. For this reason, Jesus appeals to His followers to "seek first His kingdom and His righteousness" (Matthew 6:33). That kingdom and work is all-encompassing, and provides abundant opportunity for our best efforts. This foremost pursuit leaves little, if any, time for secondary pursuits. And, nothing provides greater fulfillment, satisfaction, and joy than kingdom pursuit,
We are reminded that "No soldier in active service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him as a soldier." (2 Timothy 2:4) Our "marching orders" are abundantly clear. May we be wholeheartedly focused today - and always - on our highest calling and priority.
Steve
©Steve Taylor, 2011
I personally believe that people get the leadership they deserve - good or bad. Judah and Israel's history is punctuated with such descriptive phrases as, "He did evil in the sight of the LORD ... Judah did evil in the sight of the LORD ... he did what was right in the sight of the LORD" ... etc. Leaders rose to power who was were consistent with the spiritual climate of the day. Like people, like leadership. Like leadership, like people.
Someone has said that the lessons from history are that we don't learn from history. Inevitably, every experiment in human government has ultimately failed. Whether malevolent dictatorship or benevolent democracy, each system is ultimately short-lived. This is nowhere better illustrated than in the vivid image ancient king Nebuchadnezzar saw in a nighttime dream (Daniel 2). The metallic and mud image of a man, as Daniel revealed to him through inspiration of God's Spirit, represented the major governmental powers of human history. Most significant is the end result: "In the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which will never be destroyed, and that kingdom will not be left for another people; it will crush and put an end to all these kingdoms, but it will itself endure forever." (Daniel 2:44).
Investing in lost causes is unwise. Why would anyone continue to pour money into company stock that continues to devalue? And yet, if we pledge undue allegiance to any human government we have done just that. An ambitious experiment in political reform by evangelical Christians - the Religious Right - is now a footnote in history. But, those who clearly see their biblical responsibility to government continue to pray for their leaders (1 Timothy 2:1-4), pay taxes (Romans 13:6), and submit to its authority (Romans 13:1).
Investment in government that will last is of utmost priority to the follower of Christ. For this reason, Jesus appeals to His followers to "seek first His kingdom and His righteousness" (Matthew 6:33). That kingdom and work is all-encompassing, and provides abundant opportunity for our best efforts. This foremost pursuit leaves little, if any, time for secondary pursuits. And, nothing provides greater fulfillment, satisfaction, and joy than kingdom pursuit,
We are reminded that "No soldier in active service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him as a soldier." (2 Timothy 2:4) Our "marching orders" are abundantly clear. May we be wholeheartedly focused today - and always - on our highest calling and priority.
Steve
©Steve Taylor, 2011
posted by steve @ 9:38 AM
1 Comments:
At 2:20 PM,
Kathy Foster said…
Absolutely. The eagerness with which we embrace the future overcomes our worries about today. I for one am ready for the next government......the Kingdom of God ruled by Christ.
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