One Honorable Statesman

Where are all the servants we continually place in office to represent our thoughts and ideals? Why are they not listening to us? Six months ago the word out of Washington was that things were getting better and by mid-year the economy would show great improvements. So, of course, the first thing to do is go crazy speculating on oil to get this new money coming down the pipe, which increases the price of fuel yet try to believe that it won’t effect the projected economic growth. And, as long as your pockets are full of money, this is true. Well, here it is June and guess what? The economy has slipped, and low and behold, our leaders think it might have something to do with the increase in the cost of petroleum products. You Think!? Nothing escapes the increase cost of petroleum. Everybody has to pay for fuel over and over again. You not only have to fill your own gas tank, but you also have to share in filling the fuel tank of every truck on the highway. Every plastic product goes up in price. Medicines go up in cost. Food goes up in cost. Everything costs more because of the increased price of a barrel of oil. Speculative greed is the culprit and the economy will continue to stumble as long as this goes on. A man named Dalton Key wrote in an editorial a description of politics. “Politics has been described as the art of taking money from the rich and votes from the poor while promising to protect each from the other. With respect to government, political matters are fast becoming partisan, self-serving and in many cases corrupt. Many of us would gladly agree to trade one-thousand questionable politicians for just one honorable statesman.” I have a feeling that description was written a long time ago because it has come to fruition.
It doesn’t seem like anybody pursues wisdom anymore. It is power over others, that’s on the mind of most people. A rookie police officer was out for his first ride in a cruiser with an experienced partner. A call came in to disperse some people who were loitering. The officers drove to the street and observed a small crowd standing on the corner. The rookie rolled down his window and said, “Let’s get off the corner people.” He received a few glances, but no-one moved. So he barked, “Let’s get off the corner…NOW!” Intimidated, the group began to leave, casting puzzled stares in his direction. Proud of his first official act, the rookie turned to his partner and asked, “Well, how did I do?” “Pretty good”, chuckled the vet, “you cleared a bus stop.”
[Mark 10: 35-45] I can’t help but believe that the founding fathers of this great nation were attempting to form a government that was truly made of servants to the people. Time has diluted their intents as God is continually pushed aside by the people and government has become a big business, not serving the people, but becoming a service to the people. The smallest forms of government are lording their power over the people because the next higher up form is lording their power over them and so on all the way to the top. Jesus said His kingdom will not be organized in that way. He said, “…whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Can you imagine those in power of the world governments giving their all as servants to their citizens? I bet that without power we’d have a hard time finding just one honorable statesman.