MAR 15

Ecclesiastes 10:4-7
Memorise Titus 3:1
"Yielding pacifieth great offences…"

ARE YOU WISE IN REGARDING AUTHORITY?

Next, advice is given to the wise man with regards to how to respond when there are wicked and inept rulers placed over you. These are situations that everyone will probably face in life, of having authorities place over you that you do not agree with. How should we respond? Solomon advises that if and when the ruler or king comes up against you in anger, probably in an unjust manner whereby he cannot be pacified, Solomon exhorts him to hold his ground, and not retreat from justice. If he yields to the anger of the king, he is encouraging his sin. This advice given here is similar to the one given in Ecclesiastes 8:3, in that we do not be hasty to flee if an evil act or sin is committed.

However, when looking at a foolish ruler, Solomon observes a great evil here, whereby in the folly of his poor administration, a reversal of roles can sometimes be observed, whereby foolish men will be placed in positions of dignity, the rich condemned to low places; servants will be exalted to high positions on horses, and princes will be relegated to the role of servants, walking upon the earth. This could be the result of corruption, or simply poor judgment or lack of foresight of a fool, where he cannot discern the merits of his subjects, and raise foolish men who please him to high positions, and capable men who are the victims of backbiting he demotes to low places.

This is certainly something that nobody likes to witness or experience. Yet it is again something we see all around us. We see governments of the world making decisions that seem so out of sync with the people’s desires. We see corruption in high places. And we also see the righteous, honest and well-qualified leaders ignored or persecuted. Are we to be surprised? Are we to respond with anger and resentment? Are we to stage and uprising and seek to overthrow the government? It is in times like these that wisdom has to be exercised. Yes it is certainly not right for things like this to happen. Yet we must continually seek God’s will in our lives, and not just respond according to our own sense of justice and fairness. If the leaders compel us to sin, we cannot yield and condone such deeds. At the same time we must realize that the Christian’s duty is not to right all the social wrongs that he sees, but in all things to glorify God.

Thought: Above all, we must seek to obey God and not man
Prayer: Lord, help me to wisely submit to authorities placed above me.