2021-11-22
2 Kings 12:15 NIV
In the Old Testament, when King Joash repaired the temple, we’re told: ‘The money brought into the temple was not spent for making silver basins, wick trimmers, sprinkling bowls trumpets or any other articles of gold or silver for the temple of the LORD; it was paid to the workers, who used it to repair the temple. They did not require an accounting from those to whom they gave the money to pay the workers, because they acted with complete honesty’ (2 Kings 12:13-15 NIV). The nation of Israel prospered because the people in charge acted with integrity and honesty. They were trusted, and didn’t do anything to damage that trust.
But sadly, leaders aren’t always trusted. In 2019, a survey showed that trust in the British government has been declining for decades, and had reached its lowest level in more than 40 years. People can often think that those in leadership are only trying to get rich and hold on to their power. The problem with this line of thought is that the good leaders are tarnished along with the bad.
We need good leaders in all areas of life, and while we should hold our leaders to account, we shouldn’t forget to also encourage good leadership. So how can we do this? 1) Pray for people in authority. Prayer brings God’s influence into any situation. Whether we’re praying for a tutor, our church leader, a politician, or anyone else in a leadership role, God can step in and bring His wisdom and guidance.
2) Support godly leadership. We should take an interest our leaders’ decisions, and praise those actions which show God’s influence at work. We might think we can’t do much, but when we involve God, change can happen.
2 Chr 25-28; John 12:20-36; Ps 102:12-17; Prov 27:10-12
2 Kings 12:15 NIV
In the Old Testament, when King Joash repaired the temple, we’re told: “The money brought into the temple…was paid to the workers…They did not require an accounting from those to whom they gave the money to pay the workers, because they acted with complete honesty” (vv. 13-15 NIV). And because integrity was practiced, the nation of Israel prospered.
James Madison, one of America’s Founding Fathers and a signatory to the Constitution, wrote: “The aim of every political constitution is, or ought to be, first to obtain for rulers men who possess most wisdom to discern, and most virtue to pursue the common good of the society; and in the next place, to take the most effectual precautions for keeping them virtuous whilst they continue to hold their public trust.” Nowadays, most surveys show that trust in our political and business leaders is at the lowest point on record. We believe they have only two things in mind: to get rich and to stay in power. And sadly, good leaders receive the same broad-brush stigma. So what should you do?
(1) Pray for those in authority. Prayer is the conduit through which God’s influence is brought to bear in any situation. If you believe that, you will pray.
(2) Vote for godly leadership. The Bible says, “Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people” (Proverbs 14:34 KJV). Unless you vote, you forfeit your right to complain.
(3) Get personally involved. Edmund Burke is attributed with saying, “All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.” One person, plus God, can change things. So endeavor to be that person!
Soul food: 2 Chr 25-28; John 12:20-36; Ps 102:12-17; Prov 27:10-12
2021-11-21
Proverbs 15:26 NIV
Sometimes we say to people, half in jest, “Try to be good. And if you can’t be good, be careful!” The idea being that if you decide not to be good, make sure you’re clever enough not to get caught. But in reality, our lack of goodness is no laughing matter.
In the words of Robert Fitch: “Ours is an age where ethics has become obsolete. Morality is superseded by science, deleted by philosophy, and dismissed as emotive by psychology. It drowns in compassion, evaporates in aesthetics, and retreats before relativism. The usual moral distinctions between good and bad are simply bathed in a maudlin emotion in which we feel more sympathy for the murderer than the murdered, for the adulterer than for the betrayed, and in which we have actually begun to believe that the real guilty party – the one who somehow caused it all – is the victim and not the perpetrator of the crime.”
Those are sobering thoughts. Things that were once considered black or white are now categorized as gray. Goodness that used to meet a universal standard is now a matter of personal interpretation and preference. And an epidemic of public officials whose private conduct leaves us shocked hasn’t made things any better. Right about now you may be thinking, “I read this Devotional every day to get something that will help me feel good, and today isn’t doing it.” That’s the whole point! In order to feel good, the Bible says you must practice doing good and being good, which makes you a “pleasure” to God.
Soul food: Lev 27:30-33; Num 31:48-54; 1 Cor 16:1-3; 2 Cor 9:15
Spreuke 15:26 NLV
Soms sê ons grappenderwys vir mense: ‘Gedra jou en as jy nie kan nie, wees op jou hoede!’ Die idee daaragter is dat indien jy besluit om jou nie te gedra nie, jy seker moet maak dat jy slim genoeg is om nie uitgevang te word nie.’ Ons gebrek aan goeie, morele gedrag is egter in realiteit geen grap nie.
In die woorde van Robert Fitch: ‘Ons lewe in ‘n tyd waar etiek uitgedien geraak het. Moraliteit word deur wetenskap vervang, deur filosofie verwyder en as emosioneel deur die sielkunde afgemaak. Dit verdrink in medelye, verdamp in estetika en eindig kort voor relativisme. Die gewone morele onderskeid tussen goed en sleg word bloot gebaai in sentimentele emosies waardeur ons meer simpatie vir die moordenaar as die vermoorde en vir die egbreker as vir die verraaide toon. Ons begin eintlik glo dat die werklike skuldige party – die een wat dit op die een of ander manier veroorsaak het – die slagoffer en nie die oortreder is nie.’
Dit is ontnugterende gedagtes. Dinge wat eens op ‘n tyd as wit en swart gesien is, word nou as grys gekategoriseer. Goeie, morele gedrag, wat altyd aan ‘n universele standaard voldoen het, is nou ‘n saak van persoonlike interpretasie en voorkeur. Jy mag dalk op die oomblik dink: ‘Ek lees elke dag hierdie dagstukkies om iets daaruit te kry wat my beter laat voel en dit doen nie vandag die werk nie.’ Dit is die hele punt! Om goed te kan voel, sê die Bybel dat jy moet oefen om goed te doen en goed te wees, om sodoende God te behaag.
Sielskos: Lev 27:30-33; Num 31:48-54; 1 Kor 16:1-3; 2 Kor 9:15
Psalm 119:68 NLT
Sometimes we hear people say, ‘Be good. And if you can’t be good, be careful!’ It’s meant as a joke, but when we unpick the statement, it’s far from funny. It implies at least two things: If we choose to do bad things, we should choose less risky activities; or, if we decide not to be good, we should make sure we’re clever enough not to get caught doing the wrong things. Either way, it makes bad things seem acceptable under certain conditions. But in God’s eyes, choosing the bad thing is never okay.
Goodness isn’t a matter of personal preference or our own interpretation. We need to allow God to define our standard for goodness. If we’ve strayed away from His standard and done things wrong, it’s never too late to go back to Him. He won’t turn us away and He won’t love us any less.
We should make this our prayer: ‘You have done many good things for me, LORD, just as you promised. I believe in your commands; now teach me good judgment and knowledge. I used to wander off until you disciplined me; but now I closely follow your word. You are good and do only good; teach me your decrees’ (Psalm 119:65-68 NLT).
Our old natures will constantly try to drag us back to our old ways of doing things, so we have to be just as persistent about focusing on God and the new natures He’s given us. As The Message puts it: ‘everything…connected with that old way of life has to go…Get rid of it! And then take on an entirely new way of life – a God-fashioned life, a life renewed from the inside and working itself into your conduct as God accurately reproduces his character in you’ (Ephesians 4:22-24 MSG).
Lev 27:30-33; Num 31:48-54; 1 Cor 16:1-3; 2 Cor 9:15
