Only What We Do for Christ
Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's. - Matthew 22:21 (Image: Unsplash)
The law is based on promises made by those in power to improve the lives of its people. Sometimes, these laws go against what is best for everyone. But who determines what is truly “good” when those making the laws are supported by a party that looks out for its interests? Is that good, or just the wishes of a few influential people?
It’s important to remember that while we should follow the laws of the land, our loyalty to God takes priority. Our spiritual commitment should always come first, above any earthly rules.
Psalm 1 reinforces this mandate. Verse one distinguishes between those who seek counsel in the world and those who live for the Lord and meditate on his wisdom. Delighting in God’s word means taking a vested interest in what God says about your life and placing value in his promises. Doing so ensures you align yourself with God’s will and position yourself to receive his blessings.
In verse four, King David cautions about the spiritual vulnerability of the ungodly. He points out that their attempts to exclude God from their lives ultimately make them targets for the enemy. This seems contradictory, especially since they often present themselves as powerful by imposing laws, using hateful speech, and resorting to violence against the humble. In reality, they are trying to elevate themselves to a god-like status over those they lead.
“Blessed is the man that walketh not in the council of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.” - Psalm 1:1 (Image: Unsplash)
But Psalm 37:18 says God will remember the efforts of his faithful people, preparing for them treasures in heaven that can’t be destroyed or taken away. We often believe in our elected leaders because they sound like they can be trusted to stop the injustices we face and ease the burdens we endure in our lives. However, remember that this kind of thinking will weaken us spiritually.
Remember, we are born into a sinful world that, by nature, is prone to war against God. The very reason that God had to send his son as a sacrifice for our sins was to destroy the sentence of death placed on us by being born into sinful flesh.
Because of Adam and Eve’s sinful acts, not one person walking this earth has the right to call themselves holy or sanctified enough to win God’s favor without the precious blood of Jesus to wash away our sins and love us back into God’s almighty grace, not by diety, favor, birthright, culture, appointment or selection.
It’s essential to understand how aligning yourself with God’s word can save your life and qualify you to receive the blessings God promised us in his word. We must love him as he loved us and refrain from making idols of those whose job is to enact this country’s laws for their political gain. In Exodus 20:3, God said, “I am the Lord thy God; thou shalt have no other gods before me.”
It is not the country we serve but the God who created this country. If God indeed inspired the principles of our constitution, then we as a people would serve and devote ourselves to God without opposition or question, comprehending that only what we do for Christ will last.
