July 5, 2026 Text: Proverbs 14:34
Dear Friends in Christ,
Here are series of questions from a sermon I read recently. You guess the year. Why are 11 million American workers still without employment when there should be work for everyone with the broad sweep and natural resources of our country? Why have we had masses of hungry people in this nation when the cornucopia of plenty has poured its blessings upon our fields and farmlands? Why does destitution reign in many American families? Why do we see ominous specters on our nation’s horizon, the shadow of national pyramiding debt, the dark forms of that anarchy under the guise of communism, the attempts to destroy lawful and representative government? Got your answer? That was a sermon by Lutheran Hour Speaker Dr. Walter A Maier in . . . 1937!
Like I always say, “Come in from off the ledge.” Our national blessing has nothing to do with political party. It depends upon the Almighty. We cannot build without God; we cannot build against God. But we can build with God. We don’t need a political platform or a social media blitz. God’s plan for national blessing? 12 short, unadorned words. These words of God say nothing of inflation or deflation; no insights on labor problems or unemployment; he doesn’t lay out a plan for banking or finance reform.
Let’s outline for you, with the Spirit’s help, God’s direction for . . .
“BUILDING A BETTER NATION”
“Righteousness exalteth a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.” (Prov. 14:34). When the text says, “sin is a reproach to any people,” this is not a theory – this history. Where is the haughty Roman Empire? The world dominion of Alexander the Great? The kingdoms and nations of Cyrus? I have been watching a lot of shows recently where at one time it looked like Hitler might take over the world. You know how that ended. We are not too big to fail. Over the lost glory of every nation both the hand of God and the moving pen of history have written the verdict: “The reproach of sin.”
The counsel of God is always constructive. It declares, “Righteousness exalteth a nation.” This is not a fond dream – once again it is history. Early Christianity exalted marriage, children parenthood, at a time when the lust of the flesh ran to ruin. It exalted labor when people sought to escape work and pass it to slaves. The love for one’s fellow man elevated the ancient business world. The church, though despised and small, did what statesman of the ancient world could not do: it bestowed, with God’s help, the righteousness that exalts a nation.
What shower of blessing would reign upon this nation, if righteousness, and truth, and justice, and a brotherly regard of every man toward his fellowman would prevail. What clash of conflict could be stifled. How many of our broken homes could be spared. If only this exalting righteousness would dominate the national and individual affairs of our country.
How can we curb sin and selfishness and everything being political when even in our community we can’t celebrate America 250 with kids writing essays for the County History Museum? How can we stop snapping at each other? Maybe God will destroy social media. That might be a start. Did you see this week Ford rehired human engineers because AI wasn’t working. Man, I love it when God does that.
Our nation building centers around this. The words of Jesus, “without me you can do nothing.” In our wide resourceful world, there is only one power that can “create a clean heart” and a “right spirit” within men, and that is faith in Jesus Christ, His cleansing blood, His atoning death, His victorious resurrection.
The most vital message in human history is this: God decreed that as punishment for our sin, Christ would die to bring us back to God, to everlasting forgiveness and the never-ending mercies of heaven. Cherish it and trust it. It is a gift. You can’t earn it. Repent of your unfaithfulness and putting trust in the wrong things. Find forgiveness and peace in the arms ever outstretched to the contrite sinner.
We pray the Spirit of God may rest upon our 345 million people and our 350,000 churches. May we be equipped through daily study of God’s Word. May Christ dwell in our churches and be servants of God and not servants of man. May they know nothing else “save Jesus Christ and Him crucified.” We pray for continued freedom of conscience and worship, which his Word grants. We ask all of this, that we may have by God’s promise, that righteousness that will assuredly exalt this nation.
Amen.