This past week there has been a lot of news about Elon Musk’s power and his actions within the Trump administration. After a controversial press conference from the Oval Office last week, many people are wondering who’s really running the nation, President Trump or Elon Musk.
The truth is Elon Musk is a for-profit businessman, not an elected official. Businessman look out for their own interests, not the well-being of others. But that is the nature of many successful businessmen:
- Greedy
- Self-serving
- Obsessed with control
I am no finance expert or businessman, but even I know businessmen are focused on their bottom dollar. They go into business because they’re looking out for their own interests and success.
Despite his claims to be saving Americans ridiculously large amounts of money, Musk has yet to publish any proof of his findings or alleged fraud. Like his copartner, he is conned millions of Americans into believing he is helping them.
When the truth is they are businessmen who are devoted to their own bottom dollar. While inflation continues to rise and the cost of food skyrockets, Elon Musk is making $8 million a day from taxpayers for his government contracts. Make no mistake President Musk and his business partner are making money off of American taxpayers.
God’s people are called to be devoted to God and his purposes instead of earthly greatness and temporary happiness (Exodus 20:3, Deuteronomy 6:14, Acts 17:22-31.)
Devoted
Most of us are willing to devote ourselves to what matters most to us: God, family, careers, and hobbies. Anything we devote ourselves more to than God is an idol (Colossians 3:5.)
Devote is defined as “Characterized by loyalty or devotion.” Our devotion can be seen in how we spend our time, money, and resources. Devotion can be bad or good.
Before we become Christians, most of us devote a lot of our time and energy to bad habits or destructive addictions.
Once we meet Jesus, our priorities and what we devote ourselves to change, or at least they should. We no longer walk in darkness or follow our old ways of living. A basic teaching of Christianity is we devote ourselves to God and His purposes (Romans 14:6-8, 1 Corinthians 10:13, Colossians 3:17, 1 Peter 4:11.) The apostles remembered their Jewish education about being devoted to God alone.
Ḥērem
The ancient world was full of idols and evil practices people devoted themselves to. God’s will was for His people to be different than the corrupt world around them (Leviticus 20:26, Deuteronomy 14:2; 26:19; 28:9; 33:27.)
It is a basic Jewish principle for God’s people to devote themselves to God and His purposes (Exodus 20:3.) The Hebrew word in the Old Testament for devote is ḥērem and it can also mean, “Dedicated, devotion, a net or utter destruction,” depending on the context it is used in.
The Torah is only one part of how Israel is called to be devoted to God and His ways. Judaism emphasizes certain practices and teachings to help keep God’s people devoted to God:
- Memorizing Scripture
- Prayer life
- Observing the Sabbath
- Observing holy days and festivals
- Charity
- Championing social justice
The Jewish Shema represents what it means to be fully devoted to God. Yet God’s people still struggled with her devotion to God. God’s people often sought earthly greatness and revenge instead of obeying God.
Perhaps that is why Jesus often reminded His Disciples and the Jewish leaders about their call to be devoted to God (Matthew 22:37-40, Mark 12:30.) Jesus rebuked God’s people for knowing Scripture, but not practicing it (Matthew 7:24-27; 22:29.)
Jesus warned His followers they could not be devoted to two masters (Matthew 6:24.) The Bible and Jesus are clear we cannot devote ourselves to God and His causes and continue to live like the world. God’s people cannot continue to walk in darkness (John 8:12, Romans 13:12, Ephesians 5:8, Colossians 1:13, 1 Peter 2:9.)
Ukraine Peace Talks
In other big news this week President Trump’s administration began to help negotiate a peaceful end to the war between Ukraine and Russia. In a shock to the entire free world, President Trump’s administration willingly neglected to invite Ukraine to the negotiating table.
Again this is more of a business move since the Trump ministration was only looking out for the interests of President Trump and his obvious business partner President Putin. President Trump continued to announce his loyalty to Russia and President Putin by calling President Zelensky a dictator and threatening the nation of Ukraine.
President Trump continued his lies against Ukraine by claiming Ukraine started the conflict between Russia and itself. History shows a different story, Russia has been trying to forcibly take over Ukraine for over a decade, and its invasion of Ukraine in 2022 was only the latest attempt to overpower another nation.
Even with peace talks underway in Saudi Arabia, Russia continues its evil and oppressive assault against Ukraine. Russia is devoted to evil anti-Christian and anti-America agendas.
- Deceptive
- Greed
- Power-hungry
I am old enough to remember the latter years of the Cold War. I remember the friction between the United States and Russia and President Ronald Reagan’s efforts to end it. It was a noble fight for truth and justice.
I cannot believe that 40 years later an American president partnered with a Russian dictator who is oppressing another free nation. Moreso, I cannot believe God’s people are in favor of a communist country.
Ronald Reagan once said, “The West will not contain communism; it will transcend communism. We will not bother to renounce it; we’ll dismiss it as a bizarre chapter in human history whose last pages are even now being written.
Communism is a government-run business. The American tradition is we are a government of the people for the people, even the president isn’t above the law, because he isn’t a king. This is why God’s people need to be careful about who they are ḥērem!
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