Many years ago, a very wealthy man deeded all his property to an only son, and went to live with him and his wife. After a few years, the daughter-in-law got tired of having the elderly gentleman around and told her husband he would have to leave. Not willing or able to give the money back, the son broke the news to his father, now enfeebled by old age. A few days later the son walked with the old man down the road, over the hill, toward the poorhouse. Tired, the father asked to sit down, and finally began to weep. The son, pricked in his conscience, tried to make excuses. Finally, the elderly one controlled himself enough to say, “Son, I am not crying so much because I am going to this lonely home for unfortunates, but I am crying because of my own sins. Forty years ago, I walked down this same road with my father and led him to this same poorhouse. I am reaping what I sowed!”
This little story likely raises a plethora of questions and emotions in you as it did in me, but our main takeaway for today is: we do reap what we sow.
This truth principle of reaping and sowing is spread throughout Scripture; one of the verses which is so fitting for our Decency Minutes (DM) this week is found in Hosea 8:7. “For they have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind: it hath no stalk: the bud shall yield no meal: if so be it yield, the strangers shall swallow it up.”
The chickens have come home to roost; actions have consequences, and usually those consequences are more severe than expected. Negative actions, even though we may rationalize them for the potential “good” we expect in the short-term, can – and often do – eventually lead to disastrous outcomes. It’s vital that we stay close to the Word and, legally, within the bounds of the Constitution which our God has so richly blessed us with – the law of the land. If we do, we shall reap beautiful blessings (“chickens”) of righteousness and plenty. If we do not, we shall reap the pain of being “hen-pecked” by ravenous roosters which only have their own best interests in mind.
There are many ways in which we may find the chickens coming home to roost surrounding AI. We’ve given several warnings concerning AI in our various email alerts, DMs, and newsletter articles. Our first DM regarding Governor DeSantis’ bold stand against an unrestrained AI shows his wisdom in promoting man over “machine.” Let’s also remember the wisdom of our founders; the federal government has no authority to restrain the states from moving cautiously regarding artificial intelligence and technology. If we allow the government to tread on our constitutionally protected rights and freedoms (as we have in the past), we may find very large chickens coming home to roost; chickens so large that we ought not to be surprised if the whole “coop” comes crashing in! May God help us to be careful in what we sow or allow to be sown in our fields, so to speak.
It takes no stretch of the imagination to see how the chickens have come home to roost in our second DM. Governmentally speaking, the left has sown to the wind with open borders, open arms without the commonsense demands of requiring responsibility, and an open mind which embraces Marxism and Islam (the red-green axis); these things are anti-constitutional (making them illegal) and anti-American. The American people are reaping the financial whirlwinds of devastation and an anti-American ideology which will eventually have an overwhelming effect on our land, its freedoms, its churches, and its citizens. “…[T]he strangers shall swallow it up” continues to be as true today as it was in Hosea’s day. These “chickens” which are coming home to roost are hungry ones and they won’t be satisfied until the “barnyard” is picked clean. We must demand accountability from those who have been elected to represent us; we must stop sowing to the wind.
Our third DM brings a solution of resolution (seeing clearly) to these roosting problems, mainly for our own lives. Both generations of men in our story above chose to sow to the flesh and reap destruction; we can choose to sow differently. Paul warns us through his letter to the Galatians: “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.” (Gal. 6:7-10)
As we walk in godliness, God has a way of turning things around. However, even if we must endure the various hardships brought about by national judgment, if we sow to the Spirit we will reap life everlasting and make a difference in those around us. Let us sow righteously; let us sow to the Lord and to the glory of God!
Ron DeSantis’ Battle for Humanity
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is one of a few lawmakers in recent days to challenge AI and support the needs of workers impacted by this technology.
This isn’t the first time he has challenged corporate interests. His infamous fight against Disney has stood as an example of decency.
While the White House has pushed for deregulation of AI, DeSantis is taking a different view – one which favors individuals over the technology meant to replace them.
“The idea of this transhumanist strain, that somehow this is going to supplant humans and this other stuff, we have to reject that with every fiber of our being.”
The AI Bill of Rights in Florida protects humans from AI abuses and consumers from the cost of AI data centers. Praise the Lord for the boldness of a conservative patriot and fighter in such a time as this!
As Americans struggle financially and our tax rates only ever go up, evidence of fraudulent use of those hard-earned tax dollars is blowing up, particularly surrounding non-profits and NGOs run by and for immigrants and “refugees.”
The Somali population in Minnesota is the most blatant example. Last week Nick Shirley published a video where he visited several Somalian supposed daycares which receive public funding.
There were apparently no children there. Yet, when he called these empty daycares, he was told that they were not accepting new students. One was licensed for up to ninety-nine children, yet there was no activity during the work day and the windows were all covered up.
That one company had received almost 2 million dollars of state funding in just the past year. Similar centers are everywhere in the Somalian area of the city.
Americans are being scammed.
Last year, 51% of Americans made resolutions to improve their physical health, while 21% were committed to saving more money.
While being good stewards of all God has given us is important, the Apostle Paul urges us to set our affection on things above, instead of focusing on earthly things. Our lives are to be lived for the best interest of God’s Kingdom in mind; all should be done to the glory of God and in the name of Jesus.
Godly living is the key. I Timothy 4:8 is clear: “… godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.”
Making New Year’s resolutions isn’t the answer; we need better resolution – to see more clearly. Setting our affection on things above will allow us to see and live with greater clarity.
Note: This Decency Minute was taken from our latest Bulletin Insert; read it in its entirety here. If you enjoy it, we’d appreciate your suggesting this free resource to your pastor. If you’d like to take advantage of this free monthly resource, subscribe by contacting us at kimberly@americandecency.org. It was also sent out as an email alert.
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