Government's Role?

For those who want more government, here is something to think about. When government creates government jobs, we must remember they are not jobs that create or generate money. Every time the government creates another government agency it must have an equitable response in the private sector.

Let me explain. Since government jobs are solely dependent upon jobs in the private sector for income as a result of taxation, then every time government creates a job within itself then there must be a creation of multiple jobs in the private sector to support it. Herein lies the problem. When government is creating jobs within itself outpacing the growth of employment in the private sector, you then have the inevitable of raising taxes on everyone. Government then becomes larger and the people become financially oppressed, economic growth comes to a standstill, government portrays itself as the answer when in fact they are the problem.

It is not the government’s role to create jobs. It is the private sector’s responsibility. It’s interesting that government is the one who has stifled job growth by it’s over burdening in taxation and regulations and now wants to come in and save the day by creating jobs. This is an amazing concept. I create a problem, and then I create the solution. What’s more amazing is, the solution is more taxation and regulation and somehow what has created the crisis will miraculously become the solution. I thought about this and came up with an illustration. I tell my son “I expect ten bushels of beans out of this garden, but you can’t plant within twenty feet of the stream, ten feet of the fence, and ten feet of the yard.” My son says, “Dad, I can’t get ten bushels of beans if you expect all of these regulations to be obeyed.” I reply “that’s ok son, I have the solution, don’t plant within thirty feet of the stream, fifteen feet of the fence, and twenty feet of the yard.” My son looks at me dumbfounded and leaves scratching his head at this load of wisdom. I must admit, I feel like my son in this story when it comes to our federal government. Referring to the eighties, some people called it the decade of greed; I called it capitalism at its finest. Government downsized, deregulation happened, tax cuts took effect, and a funny thing happened – business prospered and jobs were created by the private sector. How, you may ask. Government got out of the way! Ronald Reagan said it best “The nine most terrifying words in the English language are, 'I'm from the government and I'm here to help.”

“A government which robs Peter to pay Paul can always depend on the support of Paul” - George Bernard Shaw

When man fell in the garden, he became self-centered and self-conscience instead of being God-conscience. Therefore, it is man’s tendency to gravitate towards things that satisfy himself at the expense of others. When a nation’s political leaders look at politics as a career, then security of that position becomes a priority. Conviction of principles will become compromised when financial security, and the intoxication of people’s opinion come in conflict with them. It takes a strong moral disciplined person to resist the temptations of a political life. As a result of a lack of moral stimuli in many politicians today; they are willing to sell the future of this nation at the expense of the present. This brings us to the timeless truth that George Bernard Shaw spoke many years ago, “A government which robs Peter to pay Paul can always depend on the support of Paul.” Irresponsible and selfish politicians will play on the whims of an irresponsible and selfish citizenry to keep itself in power. The problem is that eventually you will run out of enough Peter’s to pay all the Paul’s. As parents do with children; you have to do what is right regardless of their crying. Children are immature and irresponsible thus they only live for the present gratification while totally ignoring the future consequences. America is turning into a quagmire of adolescence. Free handouts are now looked at as a right and most people think government exists to provide these freebies. I think I remember a president once saying, “Ask not what your country can do for you — ask what you can do for your country.” 

I don't think people realize how dangerous this situation in America truly is. It cannot sustain the current path it is on. Something must change! That change will have to begin at the home and not in Congress or the White House. This problem didn't start in Washington, it started in the homes of America. Everybody screamed at the removal of prayer from our schools. However, let's be honest, it left the homes long before the schools. We need to teach our children responsibility, ethics, morals, and a renewed sense of national pride again. America needs to return to its biblical foundation and once again fulfill:  

 2 Chronicles 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

The irresponsible behavior of children not corrected by parents eventually become the future political generation. The blame game, and throwing the responsibility off on each other in government in their meager attempts at being the innocent compassionate person or party, is laughable until you realize their indecisiveness costs us money.  The following story seems appropriate when pondering on the behavior of our government. 

Consider this story told by Bernard L. Brown, Jr., president of the Kennestone Regional Health Care System in the state of Georgia.

Brown once worked in a hospital where a patient knocked over a cup of water, which spilled on the floor beside the patient's bed. The patient was afraid he might slip on the water if he got out of the bed, so he asked a nurse's aide to mop it up. The patient didn't know it, but the hospital policy said that small spills were the responsibility of the nurse's aides while large spills were to be mopped up by the hospital's housekeeping group.

The nurse's aide decided the spill was a large one and she called the housekeeping department. A housekeeper arrived and declared the spill a small one. An argument followed.

"It's not my responsibility," said the nurse's aide, "because it's a large puddle." The housekeeper did not agree. "Well, it's not mine," she said, "the puddle is too small."

The exasperated patient listened for a time, then took a pitcher of water from his night table and poured the whole thing on the floor. "Is that a big enough puddle now for you two to decide?" he asked. It was, and that was the end of the argument. 

Bits & Pieces, September 16, 1993, p. 22-24.

Reuben Egolf

Leading Nations

Humility Before Promotion

James 2:1-9 (KJV)
¹  My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.
²  For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment;
³  And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool:
⁴  Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts?
⁵  Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?
⁶  But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats?
⁷  Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called?
⁸  If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:
⁹  But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.

The maturation process should not be underestimated. It is a requirement for all Christians (if they are going to have longevity) to become developed, established, and to exhibit a healthy demeanor in all areas of life. One of the problems I see that tarnishes the image of Christ is placing high-profile people who profess their acceptance of Jesus Christ immediately into a place of leadership. Major League and NFL players, country singers, pop icons, etc., are given the bests seats in the mega churches as if their fame and fortunes have somehow accelerated their maturation process in Christ. One of the greatest lessons, a celebrated person in the world who comes to Christ can learn, is the valuable lesson of humility. They must now experience this all-important revelation “it’s not about me – it’s all about Jesus Christ!” 

These people of high profile must subject themselves to teaching and permit the word to penetrate deep within their heart. It takes time as it molds and shapes them into people that can stand in the face of adversity and be able to resist the great temptation of money and pride. Putting these people on a pedestal only sets them up for a fall. Not only do they embarrass Christ, but they drag many down with them. Ministers often promote them to the front because of their financial prowess. However, they do it at the expense of the famous person’s soul by dangling them over Hell and practically inviting temptation to come and devour them. Shame on any of us who would consider the pocketbook over the soul!

I think of the country singer who was recently in the news and a whole host of others such as wide receivers and Major League stars who now have reverted back into drinking, drugs, and marital woes. My heart breaks for them when many times I believe that these implosions could have been avoided if the proper protocol was established with the individual. We must pray for them to retrieve the testimony that only Christ can provide. Their pastors also need our prayers that their eyes be averted off of the personal gains that are achieved of having such a high-profile person in their midst, and remain focused on the well-being of the person’s soul.

We all gain great benefit by being patient and allowing it to complete its work in us. We may have been called to do great exploits in ministry, but we must develop the spiritual muscle and character to sustain us in that calling. Remember Joseph? He was called at a young age, but before he entered into that calling he went through a pit, slavery, and prison, and then he became what God destined him to be. 

- Dr. Reuben Egolf 

 

Real Talk about Abortion

Since the legalization of abortion in 1973 (Roe vs Wade), over 56 million unborn children have been killed, more than the entire population of Spain.  Think about it – an entire nation no longer exists! That's 155 babies per hour.  About 1 every 24 seconds. When you finish reading this blog, five more innocent lives will be terminated. Their potential, gifts, and contribution to the world will be aborted with them. The next cure for cancer, technological advance, and inventions are all plummeted into the abyss as being misdiagnosed as waste.  

Charles Swindoll in The Tale of the Tardy Oxcart told the following story. 

A professor in a college ethics class presented his students with a problem. He said, "A man has syphilis and his wife has tuberculosis. They have had four children: one has died, the other three have what is considered to be a terminal illness. The mother is pregnant. What do you recommend?" After a spirited discussion, the majority of the class voted that she should abort the child. "Fine," said the professor. "You've just killed Beethoven."

Those who cry out in support of abortion will say that it is the woman’s moral right to choose.  However, when we hear of a house that burns down and three out of four of the family dies, those same people will say, “What kind of a moral God could take three lives like that?” Making the inference that God is immoral in his decision who lives and dies. Yet, when a woman who supports "choice" gets to play God with another person’s life in her womb, she has no problem on choosing who lives and who don’t. We must understand that when a woman aborts a child, she does not become un-pregnant, but rather the mother of a dead child. American society is too willing to sacrifice morals to preserve convenience. An unborn child should not be considered as an option or an obstacle on the road of convenience. I’m afraid that our selfishness has perverted our vision, destroyed our morals, and has moved us beyond the banks of rational reasoning. Pro-choice is nothing more than a smokescreen for the real underlying problem. It is the attempt to escape the consequences of our decisions. 

To prove my point, we need to look no further than the following scenario. Scientists look diligently on Mars for any sign of life. If they found a single-cell organism there, they would exclaim they have found life. However, these same people can’t acknowledge that a child in the womb fits the same criteria.

Psalm 139:13-16 (KJV)
¹³  For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb.
¹⁴  I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.
¹⁵  My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
¹⁶  Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.

In these verses God speaks of his relationship with David while he was developing in the womb before birth. Notice, the Bible doesn't speak of fetal life as nothingness, a blob, or a lifeless mass. The description here is not of a piece of protoplasm that explodes into being David the moment he enters the outside world: this is David already being cared for by God while in the womb.

David reflects and explains how God made and crafted him and how wonderfully made we are.

There is one thread I see throughout scripture. When facing a decision always choose life. When faced with the temptation to gossip which is murder by the tongue, choose life and speak well of. When faced with a decision to lie or tell the truth – choose life and speak the truth. When faced with a decision to abort a child or let live – choose life! 

Pray for America!   

- Dr. Reuben Egolf