A blogger once asked me “What would you do if you had to face Muslim terrorists who gave you a choice to either change your religious beliefs and live under Sharia law, or die.” I replied. ”I could not answer his question because there are too many variables to consider.” Why?
Before you think I am a coward, allow me to explain my answer. Ask yourself this question about the recent events in Iraq. Why did the many of the Iraq Army defenders, trained and equipped by US forces, leave behind all their military equipment, and retreat without fighting to their death? There are many variables as to why. Poorly trained, lack of wise political or military leadership, religious beliefs, etc. However, there is also this variable to consider.
Was the only reason they joined the army only to profit in order to survive their circumstance because they had no other choice? When confronted, did they retreat because they felt no matter who runs the country or what laws are effected upon them, or religious beliefs, nothing was going to change their circumstances of being poor and subservient to the rich and powerful? In other words, they have no incentive to fight and die. Religion can be used to motivate both evil and good actions. Freedom is just a word to a poor man.
King Solomon wrote a proverb below which should be a lesson for all leaders and the powerful rich who overlook the plight of their countrymen and their families. Consider this when you think about where all the profit from oil in the Middle East has been used or distributed to mainly the rich and powerful instead of being distributed among the poor.
He who stops his ear to the cry of a poor man will himself cry out and not be answered. (Proverb, 21:13)
Solomon also wrote proverbs about being a fool when you give to people who are lazy. However, I believe the above proverb applies to people who are poor because they have no options or circumstances to earn an honest living.
Also consider this question. How much wealth from oil profits has been spent to buy armaments, luxuries, and wars in the Middle East? Then consider if the money had been distributed for welfare of the poor in the countries fighting instead, would the Middle East and the world be a better place to live than now.
In my opinion, Congress should consider these questions when they debate Obama’s latest funding request for additional US military and treasure again in the Middle East. I wonder what the approval polls for the politicians who will approve his request would reveal if a war tax is passed to pay for additional funding instead of more borrowing and deficit spending. Or by shifting funds from US programs to benefit US present needs to improve health, education, job growth, and infrastructure.
Regards and good will blogging.
Rudy u Martinka 
As Peter found out when he denied Jesus three times, we can easily overestimate our courage. So I am not going to call you a coward.
There is such a thing as being full of grace and truth, but Jesus was the only man who ever achieved it. So I am puzzled as to how to explain what I think is wrong with the first several sentences in this post. I have neither sufficient grace or truth. Do I have the wisdom? Probably not.
What constitutes wisdom? Am I wise? Except in his own eyes, who is wise? Was King Solomon wise? I think we would both agree that he was, but he still managed to mangle his life just as badly as many men have done. In fairness, we can guess that the challenges of being a despotic ruler would corrupt almost any man. Solomon’s father did better, but he still murdered one of his most loyal followers.
Any yet throughout his career Solomon remained wise, even when he did evil. Even when Solomon worshiped the most foul idols, Solomon remained wise. Instead of loving and fearing God, for a time Solomon chose to love the things of this world. Thus, he discovered the futility of misdirected wisdom.
What he learned when he strayed, Solomon used to form the substance of Ecclesiastes. Understanding what Solomon means by the last two verses of that book make all the rest worth reading.
LikeLike
In my opinion, the travesty of the first few lines in my post is that it keeps repeating.in history.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forced_conversion
I agree with you about the wisdom of King Solomon and Ecclesiastes.
Sadly he also wrote this prophetic statement which could be interpreted as to why we keep repeating in history the same follies.
For what will the man do who is to come after the King? What men have already done. (Ecclesiastes 2:12)
I would rather his answer had been this instead. “What men have learned so as not to repeat the same follies.”
When will we wise up?
Regards and good will blogging.
LikeLike
We all have the same wish, but King Solomon knew it is a vain wish.
Here was an unhappy king. He had all a man could want and still that was not enough, but he discovered that intelligence, the fact we are self-aware, is a curse. For we can see that everyone and everything we know, love, and care about will come to an end. And the older we get, the greater that curse becomes, and Solomon wrote Ecclesiastes as an old man.
Solomon, a sad old man, left us books on wisdom. If all is vanity and grasping for the wind, why did he bother? What good was what Solomon had learned? Why did he end his Ecclesiastes as he did? When he spoke of wisdom, why did Solomon also speak of God?
That is something even Solomon had trouble explaining. Although we try, we cannot rightly force our beliefs upon each other. Even with respect to each other, the Apostle Paul had to warn early Christians not to be too dogmatic.
We can spread the Gospel, but we cannot make another believe. We cannot justify another with our own faith.
I suppose that is why Jesus taught us to love each other, but He did not tell Christians to love non-Christians. Those who have been born again just have to care enough to tell non-Christians of Christ, to treat those who have been born only once as potential brothers and sisters.
Although spreading the Gospel can lead us to love even those who have yet to accept Christ, we cannot replace God in someone else’s life. We cannot fill another man’s hear with peace and love. Only God can do that. That is part of being born again.
Until someone accepts Jesus as their savior — at least understands that other men are God’s servants and not their own — they cannot act towards others in brotherly love. Because they have not accepted salvation as a gift of God, the unsaved have only themselves to save themselves. But we cannot save ourselves, and without the knowledge God’s peace and love, deep inside we are afraid — panicked — and more dangerous than any wounded animal. And then we behave without the benefit of Godly wisdom.
LikeLike
I have to agree with you again.
Solomon also said in his Ecclesiastes.
What is crooked can never be made straight.
i believe he said this to make us aware that the world is the way it is because God wants it that way for his own reasons.
However, God also sent us both His Wisdom and His Son to give us His light to help us find courage and peace when we encounter darkness on our paths in life.
Perhaps we could all see a little better if we share His light.
Regards and good will blogging..
LikeLike
Which is what you are doing.
If we remember Philippians 1:6, we need not despair over Ecclesiastes 1:15.
Thank you for your post and for making me think.
LikeLike
Excellent. I especially like your Title. Three vital ingredients God gives to those who will ask, listen, and follow His commandments.
Regards and good will blogging.
LikeLike
Good way to put it. Thank you for your post and helping to give me the idea for mine.
LikeLike