WATCH WHAT YOU EAT

"When you sit down to eat with a ruler, observe carefully what is before you, and put a knife to your throat if you are given to appetite.  Do not desire his delicacies, for they are deceptive food." Proverbs 23:1-3

Upon reading this it took me a minute to discern its meaning.  Obviously, I'm not sitting down to eat with many rulers (unless you count Pastor Curt), and I'm pretty sure they're not serving me deceptive food (unless you're still talking about Pastor Curt and you could maybe call pho deceptive food).  But what are our rulers serving us these days?  What are the delicacies they're putting before us trying to deceive us?  

If you haven't heard, there's a big election coming up.  Politicians from every corner are vying for your ears at the moment.  The last presidential election cycle cost $6.5 billion.  This one is projected to cost $10 billion.  That's enough to buy the Cowboys.  Twice.  Or perhaps you want to be productive with that money?  With $10 billion you could feed the world for a year.  All of this while we're in a chaotic, tumultuous time as a country and as individual people.  When people are hurting, they want something to give them hope.  Enter the politicians.  If they can sell you hope, then they can buy power for themselves.

As a Christian, you should "observe carefully what is before you." We must be wise as we navigate the promises that we are being sold.  More importantly, we should be putting our trust in our Creator rather than our earthly rulers.  No elected official can give you real hope.  No political party can solve what's wrong with this world.  Ultimately, we are in the hands of an almighty God, and He is our hope.  I'm reminded of another proverb which brings me great peace during election season or whenever I'm stressed out by something going on with our government:

"The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord; He turns it wherever He will." Proverbs 21:1