Politics will get you killed

Everyone deals with politics at one point in their life. I'm not talking blue states or red states or primaries or the electoral college. I'm talking politics at your job, on your kid's sports team, your HOA, or (God forbid) at a local church.

People, by nature, want to push their agenda and get their way. People that aren't inclined to deal with life ethically or for some reason are power hungry tend to use politics to advance their cause. Politics are usually born out of a lack of trust and insecurity. Sometimes it's just pure meanness. No matter what the motivation, principles from the Bible can help you see politics for what they are. Reading the Bible will also confirm that politics have been around for thousands of years. The example I'm going to point you to is from the life of king David, circa 980 BC. Read this passage of Scripture.

Since people that use politics are usually unethical, untrusting, or insecure, each situation has to be dealt with a bit differently. No matter what the motivation is, here are some general principles to look to:

• Expect the unexpected out of people when they feel threatened.

David's honest condolences, sent to Hanun because of his father's death, were completely rejected because Hanun thought David was spying on him.

• People that feel threatened will attempt to humiliate you.

Hanun had David's messenger's humiliated by having their beards shaved and he "cut off their garments in the middle at the buttocks".

• When threatened, people seek to form allegiances and contract with mercenaries.

Hanun figured the humiliation would immediately start a fight so he took a defensive position with his people and others he had contracted with.

• When attacked, stand your ground ethically.

When David saw that Hanun was taking a defensive position (it looked more like an offensive), he followed God's directions to stand his ground.

• Rest assured, that if you do the right thing, your name will be cleared and people will learn not to hang around the troublemaker.

Hanun's armies were defeated and the mercenaries gave up when they saw that David had done the right thing. The mercenaries pleged to never align with Hanun again.

Here's a great passage to bookmark when politics come up:

Don't worry about the wicked. Don't envy those who do wrong. For like grass, they soon fade away. Like springtime flowers, they soon wither. Trust in the LORD and do good. Then you will live safely in the land and prosper. Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you your heart's desires. Commit everything you do to the LORD. Trust him, and he will help you. He will make your innocence as clear as the dawn, and the justice of your cause will shine like the noonday sun. Be still in the presence of the LORD, and wait patiently for him to act. Don't worry about evil people who prosper or fret about their wicked schemes. Stop your anger! Turn from your rage! Do not envy others-- it only leads to harm. For the wicked will be destroyed, but those who trust in the LORD will possess the land. (Psalm 37:1-9, NLT)

Don't let politics kill you. Learn and follow God's principles for dealing with people and the fog of complicated situations of life will become clear.

Have a great day.