To Thrive, Our Nation – Indeed, The World – Must Endeavor To Be Righteous
Word-Of-The-Day: ‘When the righteous thrive, the people rejoice; when the wicked rule, the people groan.’ (Proverbs 29:2); ‘But those elders <or leaders, or those> who are sinning you are to reprove before everyone, so that the others may take warning.’ (1 Timothy 5:20)
We see many who are leaders in our nation and throughout the world who are not leading in terms of promoting the public’s interests or benefit, but unfortunately their own. This is particularly true in several states and cities in the United States; California, Minnesota, New York, Illinois, Chicago, and New York City. It is also true in Europe, as it appears the English, French, and Germans in their home countries are being disfavored for the immigrants of Africa and the Middle East that recently arrived in their nations.
Taxes have increased in the amounts charged and in the number of items and services that are taxed, greater restrictions on personal activities and civil rights are placed on the populace, and it is said that it is for the public’s good and for its security. However, the people are pushed out of home and automobile ownership; censorship or ‘wrong-speak’ laws no longer allow people to speak freely or constructively criticize their leaders, and places where one could once visit without permission are now regulated and controlled or prohibited.
When governments no longer represent the people but an oligarchy of a select few, the benefits of that government are geared only for those in that select group. ‘Rules for thee but not for me’ give credence to a two-tiered system of justice, rewards, and consequences. In the short term, such a ruling group may provide beneficial to a segment of society that supports them but in the long term even that segment finds the costs outweigh the perceived benefits, and all except for the ruling faction suffer.
Already in New York and California, we see those who could not afford to move out of the state, who supported their leaders, are beginning to speak out against the policies of the ruling faction and the regulations that are stunting and preventing rebuilding efforts (in the case of Los Angelinos who suffered home loss in the wildfires of 2024) and the loss of jobs and capital investments (in New York and other similar locales). In Europe, pro-native political movements are growing in stature and number despite the current governments’ steps to curtail such movements as ‘radical’.
These restrictive and burdensome government models are not under God. The inspiration of the United States and its ‘grand experiment’ of personal freedom, its citizens (not subjects) given the opportunity to be unburdened by government control and fiat. The Founding Fathers of Washington, Jefferson, Madison, and Franklin, and other patriots, understood (some more than others) that for a nation to prosper and thrive it had to be led first and foremost by God. It had to be Righteous in its founding and in its operations moving forward. The people also had to be Righteous and moral in order to keep it from becoming corrupt.
Our nation was never destined to be perfect, but always to endeavor to be Righteous in its approaches and to correct mistakes and course-correct when necessary. The Constitution and Bill of Rights were to be a foundation to build upon, a set provision of rules not to be changed except in the rarest of circumstances. Unfortunately, since progressivism came in vogue in the early 1900s, we see the short-term benefits of progressive thought in our governance reduce the long-term stability of the people’s benefit and freedom.
When progressivism came, so did the retraction of God within our society. It came slowly at first, then it snowballed until we find ourselves in a society that is split between Righteousness and debauchery, a people clinging to freedoms guaranteed and a ruling segment that focuses on the wicked and unrighteousness of sinful actions in the name of ‘freedom’. We see Proverbs 29:2 come to life, the contrast between those states enjoying Righteous rule and its’ citizenry free, and those states ruled in foolish unrighteousness and its’ subjects burdened by restrictive measures.
There is still time, however, to change our nation’s, and the world’s trajectory. We need to renew and revive the fear of God, the fear of Him removing His hand upon our nation, by placing God first and foremost. We must be ‘Joshua 1:9’ adherents and ‘be courageous’ in our assigned role as Jesus’ ambassadors obeying the Great Commission (Matthew 28:16-20, Acts 1:8) in sharing God’s Word outside the church walls. We need to follow the instructions of 1 Timothy 5:20, and call out wrongdoing, and take action in not allowing sinful actions to have a free pass.
Whether inside the church or outside of it, when sin is seen it should be called out. The calling out of sin or wrongful actions need not be acrimonious but done in constructive but firm tone. When people see someone take a stand, it can often breed others to gain the strength to rally behind that person and soon a group of Righteous people unite to seek and promote changes that return our society and leaders to a position of Righteous governance. When states (and nations) start returning to God and His Righteousness, others will follow suit.
But it takes each of us to come aboard the train and move in unison, to vote not for a political party but candidates who follow and demonstrate Godly principles. No candidate is perfect, but the best candidate is the one who ‘checks off’ a majority of such principles. Not all ‘Christian’ candidates are Righteous, so do your diligence and find the one that places God and His Word as the basis of their decision-making.
Don’t be afraid to call or write your Representatives and Senators (at both the state and federal level) when they veer off course. Notify them when they do something right – we all have a tendency to complain when they choose poorly, but often don’t take the time to promote their good decisions. If you think we are, as a society, spiraling down the drain – then we together as Believers shouldn’t be inactive but we should work together to put in the stopper, and let our nation’s 250th anniversary of its founding not be its’ last as a nation under God.
