Stewarding Your Vote

Proverbs 21:1-3 “The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, Like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes. Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, But the Lord weighs the hearts. To do righteousness and justice Is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.” – Stewarding Your Vote

Freedom is so wonderful. But oftentimes as long as it benefits us, we persistently defend it. When it benefits someone who holds opposing views, it’s suddenly less attractive.

As citizens of the United States, we enjoy political liberty and as Disciples of Jesus, we enjoy spiritual liberty. From time to time, situations arise that seem to put our political liberty at odds with our spiritual liberty.

It is here that followers of Jesus must weigh the moral responsibility of their choice against the political implications. We as Disciples of Christ have a moral obligation to follow Kingdom promises over worldly principles.

We all have a voice where we can speak to the direction of this city. That voice is our vote. We are called to steward that in the right manner. What is stewardship again? Stewardship is understanding and celebrating how we use the resources of God with which we have been blessed to build and advance the kingdom of God in every area of our life. 1 Corinthians 4:2 “it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.” Let us be found faithful in stewarding what God has given us. This is the sphere of influence we have and should consider how God would have us take action with this stewardship.

Maybe you’re one of those wrestling with the principles and policies and ballot measures put forth. If so, you may be tempted not to cast a vote at all. Whether you throw your support behind a specific candidate or intentionally choose to withhold your vote, your choice should be made from an informed viewpoint.

Pray for guidance (Proverbs 16:3 “Commit your works to the Lord, And your thoughts will be established.”) Do your homework (Hosea 4:6 “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge...”) Let your decision come from your Godly convictions (Romans 14:5 One person considers one day more sacred than another; another considers every day alike. Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind.) Then ask God for the courage to graciously deal with the consequences, whether they’re easy or difficult. Why? Because Proverbs 21:1 “The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, Like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes.”

The king or those in earthly authority may be the administrators of justice on earth but let there be no doubt about who is the dominant power. God is over every one. Psalm 46:10 “Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” The king is simply a tool God uses for administering justice as God sees fit.

You may be thinking right here that our governing officials are not administering justice well enough. That may be true, but in the end, they are not going to be held accountable to you but to God.

21:2. Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, But the Lord weighs the hearts. Divine involvement in man’s heart is not limited to kings (v. 1). A person may think nothing is wrong with their ways, but the Lord knows what is in his heart. “Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (1 Sam. 16:7). The Lord accurately evaluates one’s motives and tests them (17:3) because He’s sovereign (21:1) and omniscient (v. 2).

God’s power of discernment goes beyond unmasking those who try to fool others; he even finds out those who have fooled themselves. Galatians 6:7-8 “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.”

21:3. To do righteousness and justice Is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice. God prefers our obedience-doing what is right and just-over our sacrifice. In Israel involvement in the sacrificial system was no substitute for the “sacrifice” of righteous living. One puts on an external form of holiness through observation of religious ceremony. While such ceremonies are not of themselves evil, they matter little to God in comparison with the true devotion of an obedient heart. So let God be God and man be man.

As Christ-followers, we must know that the battle is not ours but the Lords. If we vote from our convictions, then we have done our duty. Let God reign.

Voting is an enormous privilege, not to be taken lightly. Live out your convictions every single day, by living the commands of scripture. Let God be God and man be man.

Micah 6:8 He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. Matthew 22:37-39 “Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

How you treat the least of these my brothers and sisters, you do unto Jesus. Feed them, clothe them, house them, protect them, love them, help them, share with them, lift them up, encourage them, provide for them.

That’s what Jesus did for us. Ephesians 2:11-13 “remember that you—that at a time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.”

Jesus is our example of a faithful steward. Everything the Father assigned Him to do, He did in honor. As you consider voting in this year’s municipal election for Assembly and School Board candidates, remember the privilege you have and be a good Steward of Your Vote!