From Pastor Ben
Fun Trivia:
What animal styles their hair every day? Yes, you got it, it is a Moose. Ho Ho !!! Sorry, Couldn't help myself.
Challenge:
Ecclesiastes 8:2,3
"Obey the king since you vowed to God that you would. 3 Don't try to avoid doing your duty, and don't stand with those who plot evil, for the king can do whatever he wants."
Solomon is addressing several issues in regard to our role as believers in this earthly world.
1) Our obedience to the laws of our land
2) Fulfilling our responsibility to human authority
3) The proper attitude toward those who plot evil against our authorities (including the government)
1) Our obedience to the laws of the land:
We by our very pledge of allegiance have said,
"I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all."
Because of our pledge to our country, we are to honor and obey the laws of our land, with one exception. We find this exception in Acts 5:28-32, "We gave you strict orders never again to teach in this man's name!” [This was referring to Jesus]. Instead, you have filled all Jerusalem with your teaching about Him, and you want to make us responsible for his death!” 29 But Peter and the apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than any human authority. 30 The God of our ancestors raised Jesus from the dead after you killed Him by hanging Him on a cross. 31 Then God put Him in the place of honor at His right hand as Prince and Savior. He did this so the people of Israel would repent of their sins and be forgiven. 32 We are witnesses of these things and so is the Holy Spirit, who is given by God to those who obey him.” This exception is also referred to in Luke 11:28 in reference to upholding God's instructions above man's laws.
2) Fulfilling our responsibility to human authority:
We as believers should be careful to offer proper respect and obedience to any human authority, whether in the area of human government, or civil governance, our even on the job. Our proper response to those in authority over us reflects on the attitude we are to render to others in our lives.
3) The proper attitude toward those who plot evil against our authorities (including the government):
Truth should always be given the proper position in our life. It is common for people in our world to allow inequities in our world to be the excuse for wrongdoing in other instances. We should be cautious to display right conduct in order to leave righteousness as the proper conduct for believers to uphold. I personally experienced the reality of this. Read on!
I turned eighteen while I was going to college in Canada during the Vietnam War. I was still required to enlist for the draft. So I went to the US Embassy to enlist upon turning that age. During that time, many US citizens were escaping to Canada to dodge the draft. So when I went to register for the draft, they were so surprised they asked me to stay there for a few minutes. They then called the Ambassador. He then came to shake my hand, and asked me to join him for dinner. To say the least, I was surprised at this unusual reception. I can't remember his name, but his surprise was most unusual. When leaving me, he gave me the special US Ambassador's pen. Unfortunately since then, I lost it in my many years of travel, but I was forever amazed with how my honesty was such a surprise to him.
I spoke to him during our meeting and requested that I would be granted a student deferment since I had paid my tuition for my school in full for the year. I promised to meet my obligation for service in the military as soon as I fulfilled my requirement to become a military chaplain. He affirmed that my request would be granted with a letter from the military. Sure enough, I was granted my request with a letter of deferment 2-S along with a notice of appreciation for fulfilling my obligation of enlisting for the draft. Each year thereafter I received an extension of deferment until I graduated. Then, upon sending a letter of commitment to enlist as a military chaplain, they thanked me but then released me of that obligation as the Vietnam war was over and they were not accepting applicants for chaplains presently. Of course I was relieved, so I could then become a missionary to teens in the USA through the Word of Life mission agency.
SO GO WITH GOD, my dear saint, in all of these ways, and He will honor our obedience to man's expectations, and at the same time bring honor to our LORD.