July 23 - Rejoice Or Mourn.

Proverbs 29:2
“When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn.”
 
We have read of this Truth two other times recently:
 
Proverbs 28:12
“When righteous men do rejoice, there is great glory: but when the wicked rise, a man is hidden.”
 
Proverbs 28:28
“When the wicked rise, men hide themselves: but when they perish, the righteous increase.”
 
When God says something once it is True. How much more should we adhere to the Truth when He repeats them in His Word?
 
The state of the hearts of those in authority will determine the outcome of the people. We see this time and time again throughout the Old Testament as Israel changed kings over and over.
 
There are two types of authorities – those that do evil in the sight of the Lord and those that do right in His sight.
 
When we obey Him we do right.
When we neglect to do what He says we do evil in His sight.
 
We are all in authority of something.
Whether or not we are in a leadership role, we are in authority of ourselves. We make our own choices and we have to answer for them. If we do right, we will be blessed. If we do not, we will suffer the consequences.
 
Who is looking up to you?
Do you have children? Employees? Students in your Sunday School class?
Younger Christians that you influence? The list could go on and on. Most likely there are people looking up to you that you may not even realize, yet your testimony has impacted them.
 
Are they able to rejoice because we have done right in the sight of the Lord? Or do they mourn over the testimony we really have outside the walls of the church building?
 
Luke 12:48
“…For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.”
 
 
Bible Reading:
Ezra 5-6  |  Philemon  |  Proverbs 23