Bottom line up front: Doing the Right Things for the Right Reasons

Intro: One of the greatest of satirists, Ambrose Bierce, wrote the following: “Politics: A strife of interests masquerading as a contest of principles, the conduct of public affairs for private advantage.”

That qualifies as a mic drop in my book. Regardless of our political affiliations, I’m sure we could all agree that politics is, to employ an oxymoron, pretty ugly. I have a couple of cousins who are lifelong lawyers, but one of them is very drawn to politics. I love my cousins, and have many fond memories of fishing and hunting together when we were all boys in middle GA, and of being together during holidays over at Momo and Granddaddy’s house for the best food this side of anywhere. If you know what iron skillet-baked cornbread is with fatback in the collards, we may be of the same ilk. Anyway, we were all boys in those days but I would not trade those times for anything. They are sweet, sweet memories.

But I wonder sometimes what it is that draws some folks to politics. I know Christians are commanded to pray for our leaders and those in authority. Scripture is clear (Rom 13:1-7; 1 Tim 2:1-2). But as for me, I just could not pursue politics. I think it comes down to one’s motives, really. Do we do the right things with the right reasons? Motive is key. What’s one’s motive? Do we really aim for genuineness and selfless service or is politics exactly what Ambrose Bierce said it is? You might be able to infer my instinctual answer.

Encouragement: When Paul was passing his baton of ministry to Timothy, he (Paul) wrote, “The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith” (1 Tim 1:5). That’s foundational. In modern parlance, it’s doing the right things for the right reasons.