What a privilege we have to live in a country where we have a voice with our vote.  Our US democracy offers us a structure to elect individuals where we place our trust to preserve the freedoms and preferences of our citizens.  If you’ve ever held an elected position – paid or volunteer – you realize the gravity of such a position.  Your votes and decision making go well beyond yourself, affecting the greater population.

When the righteous thrive, the people rejoice; when the wicked rule, the people groan.

Proverbs 29: 2

Millions of people have suffered under the hand of cruel rulers and regimes.  Adolf Hitler, Joseph Stalin, Vladimir Putin, Mao Zedong…..just to mention a few from the last century.  History has been ripe with periods of brutality at the hands of those in charge.  It is as old as time, and continues to the present day.  Just take a look at the loss of individual freedoms currently in places such as Syria and Venezuela.  Or, what is happening in Israel present day.

Wind back time a little over 3000 years, and King Solomon had similar sentiments over the role of government.  Succeeding the reign of his father King David, King Solomon was Israel’s third king, ruling for the next 40 years. King Solomon was well known for his riches and intelligence. He left a wealth of wisdom within his writing – most notably the biblical books of Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and Song of Songs. 

“If you seek it (wisdom) like silver, and search for it as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding; He stirs up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk in integrity (Proverbs 2: 4-7).

Pursuit of wisdom was worth more than anything else to King Solomon.  The Bible states that Israel and its people grew prosperous during his reign, reaching a position of great power, respect and wealth.  The book of Proverbs is full of guidance on the importance of this same biblical wisdom.  In it, King Solomon encourages the reader to – above ALL else – trust in God in our life pursuits, for temporal knowledge will fade away. 

With elections before us, we must be mindful where we place our vote.  We live in a time period where many elected US officials are slowly chipping away at the biblical freedoms and morality that our country was established on.  An increasing majority of our representatives have become pawns of the greatest dollar and numerous government agencies have become bloated and ineffective.  A system that was designed for the common man is now a machine run by an elite few – quite often spitting out sinful legislation.

People of any nation are seriously affected by the morality of those in authority.  So, please do your part and fulfill your civic privilege to vote.  Make your voice heard.  The future of our nation depends on it.