Jeremiah 17:5-10
5Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD. 6For he shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when good cometh; but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land and not inhabited. 7Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is. 8For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit. 9The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? 10I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.
As we enter into this election year, the words of this passage of Scripture should give us perspective. Politicians of all kinds make promises and sound as though they can solve every problem each one of us has. However, most of their rhetoric is just that. It is rare that any government official lives up to his or her promises.
We must always remember that God alone can be trusted. Putting our trust in mankind will lead us to “parched places in the wilderness” (vs. 6). What a graphic example the Lord gives us of the folly of trusting in mere humans!
In contrast, trusting in God means that we will not “cease from yielding fruit” (vs. 8). As this passage states, the Lord is where our hope should be. Looking to His Word will provide knowledge that will strengthen our faith in Him and guide us in our daily life.
This is not to say that we should not be concerned about who wins elections. It is obvious from biblical history that the Lord is involved in the workings of government, for He instituted it for our benefit (Romans 13:1, 4). We should exercise our civic duty under our representative government and prayerfully vote for the persons who we believe God desires in an office.
However, regardless of who is in office, we are commanded to pray for our leaders (1 Timothy 2:1-2). I fear that this duty too often is neglected. (I am often guilty in this area too.) This neglect also shows a lack of trust in God. May we be convicted in this area as we approach the November election.