In Government We Trust

As the worldwide economic crisis continues, more and more people are looking to the government for help. People see the government bailing out companies and think that they ought to get a personal bailout as well. But these people ought to be taking responsibility for their own lives instead of continuing to expect the government to take care of them.

In 1861, Secretary Chase, in a letter, instructed James Pollock, Director of the Mint at Philadelphia, to prepare a motto. He said, "No nation can be strong except in the strength of God, or safe, except in His defense. The trust of our people in God should be declared on our national coins."

The saying on all the coins became, "In God We Trust." And it wasn't until the next century, when President Eisenhower approved a Joint Resolution of the 84th Congress, declaring the national motto of the United States, "In God We Trust." But sadly, today, far too many people do not believe that motto.

When the United States became an independent nation, the Founding Fathers believed that people had certain unalienable rights given to them by God. One of their key principles and core beliefs was that all men are created equal and endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights. Among those rights noted were life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

Their view of entitlements was very different than the current views of entitlements in our day and time. They believed that the people were entitled to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. But are some people perhaps overlooking the word, "pursuit?"

It was never the intention of the Founding Fathers to guarantee happiness for everyone. Being happy and taken care of is not anyone's birthright. The intent of the Founders was rather to allow each individual's pursuit of their own happiness.

If that is true, and I believe that it is, then that means that I am responsible for my own happiness. The Constitution of the United States gives me the right to pursue my own happiness. But neither the Constitution nor the United States government can guarantee my happiness,

It is both sad and alarming that more and more Christians are looking to and expecting help from their government and not from their God. For them it is no longer "In God we Trust." By their very thoughts and actions they indicate that their motto is, "In Government we Trust."

I'm not negating the seriousness of this worldwide economic crisis. It is very serious. I understand that there are millions of people who are going through very difficult times.

Who should Christians look to for help? Are we going to continue to look to and expect the government to bail out everybody? Who should we expect to supply the things that they need? Is the government bigger and better equipped to help than our God? Perhaps some very valid questions to ask in the times that we are living in are, Has the Creator of the heavens and the earth lost any of His power? Has He lost any of His willingness? Does He love you any less today than He did yesterday?

The answer to all three of those questions is, no! God is still able and willing, and, His love for you never changes. We really can trust God no matter how lousy things become.

I remember years ago hearing that old saying, "If you give a man a fish, you feed him for a day. If you teach him how to fish, you feed him for the rest of his life." I'd like to add a line to that: God is loving enough to show you where and when to fish!

It is up to each person to build into their own mind and heart a trust and confidence in God to supply all that they desire in abundance. God has promised abundance and prosperity. His supply is endless.

Who do you trust? You can always choose who to trust. And consider this; every time you see your money, whether it's paper or coin, it can be a great reminder to you: In God I trust!


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Michael A. Verdicchio offers a FREE eBook, "9 Keys to Answered Prayer!" at:
http://www.ConfidenceAndJoy.com
Michael is a husband, father, minister, author, broadcaster and the voice on numerous projects and productions, Get a FREE Lifetime Membership to EnrichingYourLifeNow.com when you subscribe for FREE to his inspiring blog.