If the Bible has taught us anything it must include this axiom of truth: Never underestimate the human element! Jesus said, Mark 10:18 “There is none good but one, that is, God.” Self-reliance, codependency, and governmental issuants continually fail.
In regards to self: Jer. 17:9 “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” To trust in yourself comes with built-in pitfalls. Passions, ambitions, and lust are always lurking. Flesh declarations sound good in the moment, but are mostly suspect. Peter proclaimed, “I will never deny you, Lord.” However, the answer changed when accusations arrived from the shadows. Paul revealed the struggle: Rom 7:23 “But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.” Rom 7:24 “O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?”
In regards to friends or family, we must remember that the world is filled with broken relationships. While we hope for lasting relationships, failed friendships and dysfunctional families are much more common. All of us have held confidence in people who turned against us. We have all been broken and experienced painful, severed relationships.
In respect to the government, it ought to be clear that most politicians are working for their own good. The prophet Samuel warned Israel of this very thing. He said that a king-ruler-government, would enlist your sons and daughters. They would tax you and take the best of your life. No truer words could be spoken. In the name of universal good, all governments take what they want. Therefore, to trust in government, political parties, or any elected official is to put your life into the hands of those who are often corrupt.
Our Faith is not in economy, health, education, or any element of this world. The human element has always been in conflict with the Divine Will of God. All have sinned. All have come short of the glory of God. There is no one righteous, no not one! It is only by the Blood of Jesus Christ that we are able to stand before Him blameless. Unredeemed humanity will fail, but Jesus never fails! Let us guard against the confidence/trust of the flesh. We will set our affections on things above, not on the things of this earth.
Pastor Jeffrey Harpole