Who Are You Counting On?

“Don’t put your confidence in powerful people; there is no help for you there. When they breathe their last, they return to the earth, and all their plans die with them. But joyful are those who have the God of Israel as their helper, whose hope is in the Lord their God.” Psalms 146:3-5 NLT

We love to put our confidence in a person. We so easily focus on powerful people with great plans. These powerful people gather attention and are constantly in front of us, seeking our support, attention, and devotion.

We find powerful people anywhere we look. Government, business, and religion all have their modern-day champions of power and influence. They exist in communities and families. People are often held captive through abuse and manipulation by powerful people with grand plans.  

The writer of Psalm 146 makes it very clear how to respond to these types of people: Don’t put your confidence in powerful people; there is no help for you there.

For those who hold leadership roles, are you focused on your own power and grand plans, or are you focused on pointing everyone to God through everything you do?

Do those in leadership roles begin to believe in their own power and plans rather than staying focused on God’s leading and direction in their lives? 

As we all navigate who to trust, vote for, hire, or lead in our lives, are we doing it in this context: Joyful are those who have the God of Israel as their helper, whose hope is in the Lord their God.

History is littered with powerful people with great plans. The world stage today is filled with more people focused on power with grand plans. Some will do great harm, and that will be what history remembers of them. 

As followers of Christ, we are encouraged to navigate a world where people seek power and promise grand things by counting on God as our helper. Our confidence is not in the powerful with grand plans. Rather, we live by trusting God to help us.

For leaders following Christ, this means being tenacious about surrendering power and focusing on God.  Scott Rodin, a leader who follows Christ, says it this way: “We are to do God’s work, God’s way, for God’s glory.”

Everyone will have to make thoughtful and responsible decisions about how to respond to people with power and influence. Responsible decision about who to vote for, who to place in leadership of companies, who to trust in matters of our faith, and who to be in lifelong relationships with are all part of the choices we are involved in.

More importantly, we are to make these choices in the context of being focused on God as the one who is leading and guiding our lives. It is His power and influence we put our trust in. We are counting on Him to help us navigate living in a broken world.

When we do this, we can experience joy because God is the one we really can count on in all circumstances. By the way, the biggest plans for your blessing and benefit come through God. The Apostle Paul says it this way: “Now all glory to God, who is ale, through his mighty power and work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.” Ephesians 3:20 NLT

– Ed McDowell, C.E.O. Warm Beach Camp Ministries