Who We Entrust With Authority

When Jethro saw Moses hearing disputes from morning until evening, he advised him to appoint rulers over thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens. Before Moses entrusted anyone with authority, Jethro set out the qualifications. These men were to be capable, fear God, tell the truth, and reject dishonest gain. Whether they were responsible for thousands or tens, the same standards applied (Exodus 18:13–26).

Proverbs 29:2 shows why those qualifications matter. When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice. When the wicked rule, the people groan. In Romans 13:1–7, Paul teaches that governing authorities are appointed by God and that we are to be subject to them. He describes their role as serving the good of the people and restraining wrongdoing. The character of those in office matters because the people they govern live with the consequences of their decisions.

The weight of public office should compel us to take an active part in choosing our leaders and to let Scripture guide our vote. As we evaluate candidates at every level, we can ask whether they are capable of doing the work and whether their conduct shows reverence for God, a commitment to truth, and a refusal to use public office for personal gain. What they have done deserves as much attention as what they promise. Our vote gives us a way to put the values we profess into practice.