In serving one's lawful authorities, YÁOHU UL expects that each one must use to the fullest whatever talents and abilities he has in rendering excellent services towards those YÁOHU UL gave for his protection. To the one who serves diligently and faithfully, promotions, bonuses, higher incomes and other privileges are given as rewards.

But to those who do not use their abilities to the fullest, or for those who serve slothfully and with murmurings, to them are allotted demotions, inflations, expulsions, layoffs or suspensions as penalties.

No one can outwit or cheat the unseen Supreme Authority of All - YÁOHU UL.

YÁOHU UL also expects that subordinates not merely do their duties but to exceed and excel in whatever capacity they are in serving Him.

Going the second mile is the best, if one wants to be praised and highly-rewarded by YÁOHU UL, through human authorities.

'To whom much is given much is required,' as it is inscribed.

'When a servant comes in from plowing or taking care of the sheep, he doesn't just sit by the table and eat, but first prepares his ruler's meal and serves him his meal before he eats his own.

And he is not even thanked, for he is merely doing what he is supposed to do. Just so, if you merely obey Me, you should not reckon yourselves worthy of praise. For you have simply done your duty!' - Luke 17:7-9, Holy Scriptures.

'If the military demand that you carry their gear for a mile, carry it two.' - Man-YÁOHU (Matthew) 5:41, Holy Scriptures.

'For YÁOHU UL's sake, obey every law of your government; those of the President as Head of State, and those of his officials, for He has sent them to punish all who do wrong, and to honor those who do right.'

It is YÁOHU UL's will that your pure lives should silence those who foolishly condemn the Glorious Message without knowing what it can do for them, having never experienced its power.

You are free from the law, but that doesn't mean you are free to do wrong. Live as those who are free to do only YÁOHU UL's will at all times.

Show respect for everyone. Love your fellow-believers in hol-MEHUSHKHÁY YAOHÚSHUA everywhere.

Reverentially fear YÁOHU UL and honor the government.

Subordinates, you must respect your authorities and do whatever they tell you - not only if they are kind and reasonable, but even if they are harsh and cruel.

Praise our Molkhiúl YAOHÚSHUA if you are punished for doing right!

Of course you get no credit for being patient if you are penalized for doing wrong; but if you do right and suffer for it, and are patient beneath the blows, YÁOHU UL is well pleased.

This suffering is all part of the work YÁOHU UL has given you. The Messiah YAOHÚSHUA, Who suffered for you, is your example. Follow in His steps.

He never sinned, never told a lie, never answered back when insulted; when He suffered He did not threaten to get even; He left His case in the hands of YÁOHU UL Who is always just.'

- 1 Káfos (Peter) 2:13-23, Holy Scriptures

Servant-leadership by word and example is the model way of leading your subordinates - like what hol-MEHUSHKHÁY YAOHÚSHUA exemplified while He was serving YÁOHU UL, the Father, here on earth.

'Then the mother of YÁOHU-caf and YÁOHU-khánam, the sons of Zebedee, brought them to YAOHÚSHUA and respectfully asked a favor.

'What is your request?' He asked.

She replied, 'In Your Kingdom, will You let my two sons sit upon two thrones next to Yours?'

But YAOHÚSHUA told her, 'You don't know what you are asking!'

Then He turned to YÁOHU-caf and YÁOHU-khánam and asked them, 'Are you able to drink from the terrible cup I am about to drink from?'

'Yes,' they replied, 'we are able!''

'You shall indeed drink from it,' he told them. 'But I have no right to say who will sit upon the thrones next to Mine. Those places are reserved for the persons My YÁOHU ABí (Father) selects.'

The other ten disciples were indignant when they heard what YÁOHU-caf and YÁOHU-khánam had asked for. But Molkhiúl YAOHÚSHUA called them together and said, 'Among the pagans, kings are tyrants and each minor official rules it over those beneath him.'

'But among you it is quite different. Anyone wanting to be a leader among you must be your servant.'

'And if you want to be right at the top, you must serve like a slave.'

'Your attitude must be like My own, for I, hol-MEHUSHKHÁY, did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give My life as a ransom for many.' - Man-YÁOHU 20:20-28, Holy Scriptures

Children, employees and the citizenry for that matter usually develop into the kind of subordinates in the pattern of the words and actual examples they daily receive from their authorities.

If the government authorities, parents, teachers, employers, managers, lessors or religious leaders are upright, honest, diligent and servile in their attitudes, then most of the subordinates likewise will develop into such responsible individuals.

If however the authorities are corrupt, immoral, idolaters, dishonest, drunkards, addicts or gamblers, then most of the subordinates will likewise become such. The actions of the authorities will be too loud that the subordinates could not hear what they are advocating or teaching. If the parents are alcoholics, it is not remote for their children to become alcoholics, too, when they grow up.

'Wine is a mocker and beer a brawler; whoever is led away by them is not wise.' - Maush'léi (Proverbs) 20:1

'Hearken, my son, and be wise, and keep your heart on the right path. Do not team up with those who drink too much wine or gorge themselves on meat, for drunkards and gluttons become poor, and drowsiness clothes them in rags.' - Maush'léi (Proverbs) 23:19-21

'Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has strife? Who has complaints? Who has needless bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes? Those who linger over wine, who go to sample bowls of mixed wine.

Do not gaze at wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it pours very smoothly! In the end it bites like a snake and poisons like a viper.

You will be like one sleeping on the high seas, lying on top of the rigging. 'They hit me,' you will say, 'but I'm not hurt! They beat me, but I don't feel it! When will I wake up so I can get another drink?' - Maush'léi (Proverbs) 23:29-35

'If a man pampers his servant from youth, he will bring grief in the end.' - Maush'léi (Proverbs) 29:21

Authorities were put in place by YÁOHU UL to protect their subordinates from the wiles and attacks of ha-satán, and also to set noble examples of correct conduct and right character.

The more submissive an authority is to YÁOHU UL, the more his subordinates are submissive likewise unto him.

Likewise, the more rebellious a person in authority is against YÁOHU UL, the more rebellious, too, are his subordinates against him. What he sows to YÁOHU UL, he will surely reap from his subordinates.

An employee or a child who has been rebellious against his authorities will never be an authority himself because he will surely always reap rebellion from whoever would be under his jurisdiction or dominion - rebellion of the kind which is pressed tight, shaken together and running over will the subordinates give unto him.

Why? Because he must harvest what he had sown in the past.

'Because YÁOHU UL does not punish sinners immediately, people feel it is safe to do wrong. But though a man sins a hundred times and still lives, I know very well that those who reverentially fear YÁOHU UL will be better off; unlike the wicked, who will not live long, wealthy lives - their days shall pass away as quickly as shadows because they don't reverentially fear YÁOHU UL.'

- Ecclesiastes 8:11-13

Another fine example is this: a son grew up to be a rebellious, hardheaded youth and he only brought miseries and heartaches to his parents. This son, after he gets married and has set up a family of his own, his children too will do likewise unto him what he did to his parents when he was younger.

He must reap what he had sown in the past, and now from his own children, and he will surely taste the bitter pills of miseries and heartaches which he dealt to his parents before.

On the other hand, a positive example would be this: an employee who is loyal, diligent, honest and servile will someday hold a highly-responsible seat of authority in the future (it does not matter when or where - the fact of the matter is it will happen in YÁOHU UL's time and way!).

He will be an effective servant-leader because he will reap from his subordinates what he had sown in the past. Because he/she planted seeds of uprightness in the past, surely he/she will begin to harvest a lifetime of favors and peace!

If majority of the populace of a specific country steals from YÁOHU UL His tithes and offerings, likewise, YÁOHU UL will permissively allow corrupt and decrepit officials to rule over them to also steal from them to the utmost degree.

As the people measure out to YÁOHU UL, likewise, YÁOHU UL, the Wise UL, will measure out to the people, whether they know the Scriptures or not, still and all the Words of YÁOHU UL will take effect.

If again, majority of the populace don't pay their taxes due the government, or if they cheat in their filing of their tax returns, surely what they sow they will reap. They will be subjected under a government which likewise cheats on them and cannot provide basic services because the people don't pay their taxes, and likewise, the government officials do not hand out to the tax evaders the foreign aid the country receives. Why? Because as the people do unto YÁOHU UL, similarly, YÁOHU UL will do unto them, fine measure, pressed tight, shaken together and running over.

However, if the majority of the populace reverentially fear YÁOHU UL and His words, they don't steal from Him nor cheat in regard to their taxes, but, on the contrary, are liberal and generous in their support of YÁOHU UL's causes and the government's programs, then YÁOHU UL will see to it that they get wise, prudent and responsible government leaders who will truly provide the basic services to the populace when needed. This country will prosper.

If the parents neglect to properly and dutifully rear their children up in the Words of YÁOHU UL, these parents will also be neglected by their children when they grow older. What they planted they will reap. But for those parents who diligently cared for and lovingly disciplined their children according to the admonitions of YÁOHU UL in His Word, YÁOHU UL will see to it that their children will be a benefit and not a disgrace to them as parents in the future, and they will be cared for by their children and grandchildren even during their golden ages.

'To have a fool for a son brings grief; there is no gladness for the father of a fool.' - Maush'léi (Proverbs) 17:21

'A foolish son brings grief to his father and bitterness to the one who bore him.' - Maush'léi (Proverbs) 17:25

'A foolish son is his father's ruin, and a quarrelsome wife is like a continual dripping.' - Maush'léi (Proverbs) 19:13

'Houses and wealth are inherited from parents, but a prudent wife is from YÁOHU UL.' - Maush'léi (Proverbs) 19:14

'Better to live on a corner of the roof than share a house with a quarrelsome wife.' - Maush'léi (Proverbs) 21:9

'Better to live in a desert compared to living with a quarrelsome and ill-tempered wife.' - Maush'léi (Proverbs) 21:19

'Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline will drive it far from him.' - Maush'léi 22:15

'Do not withhold discipline from a child; if you punish him with the rod, he will not die. Punish him with the rod and save his soul from death.' - Maush'léi (Proverbs) 23:13-14

'Better is open rebuke than hidden love. Wounds from a friend can be relied upon, but an enemy multiplies kisses.' - Maush'léi (Proverbs) 27:5-6

'The rod of correction imparts wisdom, but a child left to himself disgraces his mother.' - Maush'léi (Proverbs) 29:15

'Discipline your son, and he will give you peace; he will bring delight to your soul.' - Maush'léi (Proverbs) 29:17

If the parents are adulterous and do condone sexual immoralities, drugs and violence in their household, they must not be surprised if their daughter comes home one day anonymously impregnated and the son deliriously dissolved on crack cocaine, being hunted down by the police authorities for involvement in some violent crime.

What the parents condone minimally, the children will surely do excessively!

If an employee cheats on his/her time record, steals office or business property (such as paper clips, bond papers, envelopes and other minor supplies), does not give his honest work for an honest pay everyday, he must not be surprised if, after his long service in that organization or government, there is not enough money or funds to give what is due him/her, for whatever reason.

Why? One must always reap what he/she had planted in the past. He stole therefore something must be stolen from him in return. It is not a question of when, it is sure, because YÁOHU UL's words are always effectual.

No one can separate the fruit from the seed, however angry or threatening one may be.

Never.

'My people are ruined for lack of knowledge.'

- Hosea 4:6, Tanakh or Hebrew Holy Scriptures

Whatever attitudes, servitude, behavior or treatment you render to your authorities, likewise you will harvest from your subordinates, now or later. Again, one can never separate the fruit its seed.

A noteworthy scriptural example of how YÁOHU UL dealt with an authority who tolerated abuses and wickedness among his favorites is what transpired in the lives of Uli (whose corrupted translation is 'Eli') and his children.

'Now the sons of Eli were evil men who didn't love YÁOHU UL. It was their regular practice to send out a servant whenever anyone was offering a sacrifice, and while the flesh of the sacrificed animal was boiling, the servant would put a three-pronged flesh hook into the pot and demand that whatever it brought up be given to Uli's sons. They treated all of the Yaoshorulítes in this way when they came to Shiloh to worship.'

Sometimes the servant would come even before the rite of burning the fat on the altar had been performed, and he would demand raw meat before it was boiled, so that it could be used for roasting.

If the man offering the sacrifice replied, 'Take as much as you want, but the fat must first be burned as the law requires,' then the servant would say, 'No, give it to me now or I'll take it by force.'

So the sin of these young men was very great in the eyes of YÁOHU UL; for they treated the people's offerings to YÁOHU UL with contempt.

Uli was now very old, but he was aware of what was going on around him. He knew, for example, that his sons were seducing the young women who helped at the entrance of the Tabernacle.

'I have been hearing terrible reports from YÁOHU UL's people about what you are doing,' Uli told his sons. 'It is an awful thing to make YÁOHU UL's people sin. Ordinary sin receives heavy punishment, but how much more this sin of yours which has been committed against YÁOHU UL.'

But they wouldn't hearken to their father, for YÁOHU UL was already planning their deaths.

One day a prophet came to Uli and gave him this message from YÁOHU UL: 'Didn't I reveal My power when the people of Yaoshorúl were slaves in Egypt? Didn't I select your forefather Leví from among all his brothers be My priest, and to sacrifice upon My altar, and to burn incense, and to wear a priestly robe as he served Me? And didn't I assign the sacrificial offerings to you priests? Then why are you so greedy for all the other offerings which are brought to Me? Why have you honored your sons more than Me - for you and they have become fat from the best of the offerings of My people!

Therefore, I, YÁOHU UL of Yaoshorúl, declare that although I promised that your branch of the tribe of Levi would always be My priests, it is ridiculous to think that what you are doing can continue. I will honor only those who honor Me, and I will despise those who despise Me. I will put an end to your family, in order that it will no longer serve as priests.

Every member will die before his time. None shall live to be old. You will envy the prosperity I will give My people, but you and your family will be in crisis and need. Not one of them will live out his days. Those who are left alive will live in sorrow and grief; and their children shall die by the sword.

And to prove that what I have said will come true, I will cause your two sons, Hophni and Phinchas, to die on the same day!

Then I will raise up a faithful priest who will serve Me and do whatever I tell him to do. I will favor his offsprings, and his family shall be priests to My kings forever.

Then all of your offsprings shall bow before him, begging for money and food.

'Please,' they will say, 'give me a job among the priests that I will have enough to eat.''

Then YÁOHU UL said to Shamu-Ul, 'I am going to do a shocking thing in Yaoshorúl. I am going to do all of the dreadful things I warned Uli about. I have continually threatened him and his whole family with punishment because his sons are blaspheming YÁOHU UL, and HE DOESN'T STOP THEM.

So I have vowed that the sins of Uli and of his sons shall never be forgiven by sacrifices and offerings.'

- 1 Shamu-Ul (Samuel) 2:12-17;22-25;27-36;3:11-14, Holy Scriptures

Power and dominion, control and protection all belong to the Supreme Authority, YÁOHU UL, and He delegates these to those holding seats of authority as He pleases, whatever He deems right and proper.

The phrase 'chain-of-advice' or 'chain-of-counsel' refers to that invisible hierarchical surrounding arrangement composed of those who have the rights and responsibilities to give the subordinate pieces of advice for guidance, counsel, admonition and points of correction.

Examples are one's grandparents, uncles, aunts, elder married siblings, school educators, spiritual counselors and so on.

The wife is part of the husband's chain-of-advisers.

The subordinate is under obligation to obey commands and orders which emanate from the Supreme Authority then flows from up down to him through the chain-of-command, or suffer penalties for disobedience thereof.

On the other hand, the subordinate is also encouraged to hearken to and take into careful thought the pieces of advice given to him by those in his chain-of-advisers, though he is not obliged nor required to obey or follow them. Their pieces of advice are only for guidance and evaluation in the subordinate's decision-making processes.

The wise subordinate will only hearken to advice which are in harmony with the perfect will of YÁOHU UL and in accordance with His inscribed Word, as confirmed also in his spirit by the indwelling 'RÚKHA hol-HODSHÚA' - Who leads every believer into all truth.

'In solemn truth I tell you, anyone believing in Me shall do the same miracles I have done, and even greater ones, because I am going to be with YÁOHU ABí (the Father).'

'You can ask Him for anything, using My Shúam (Name), and I will do it, for this will bring praise to ha-ABí (the Father) because of what I, the Son, will do for you. Yes, ask anything using My Shúam (Name), and I will do it!

'If you love Me, obey Me; and I will ask YÁOHU ABí (the Father) and He will give you another Menáchem (Comforter), and He will never leave you.

He is the 'RÚKHA hol-HODSHÚA' - the Spirit Who leads into all truth.

The world at large cannot receive Him, for it isn't looking for Him and doesn't recognize Him. But you do, for He LIVES with you now and some day shall be within you also.

No, I will not abandon you or leave you as orphans in the tempest - I will come to you.

In just a little while I will be gone from the world, but I will still be present with you.

For I will live again - and you will, too. When I come back to life again, you will know that I am in My YÁOHU ABí (Father), and you in Me, and I in you.

The one who obeys Me is the one who loves Me; and because he loves Me, My YÁOHU ABí (Father) will love him; and I will too, and I will reveal Myself to him.

Because I will only reveal Myself to those who love Me and obey Me. YÁOHU ABí (the Father) will love them too, and We will come to them and live with them.

Anyone who doesn't obey Me doesn't really love Me.'

- YÁOHU-khánam (John) 14:12-24, Holy Scriptures

'The plans of the upright are just, but the advice of the wicked is deceitful.' - Maush'léi (Proverbs) 12:5

'The way of a fool seems right to him, but a wise person hearkens to advice.' - Maush'léi (Proverbs) 12:15

'Pride only breeds quarrels, but wisdom is found in those who take advice.' - Maush'léi (Proverbs) 13:10

'Hearken to advice and accept teaching, and in the end you will be wise.' - Maush'léi (Proverbs) 19:20

'A wise person has great power, and a person of knowledge increases power; for waging war you need guidance, and for victory many advisers.' - Maush'léi (Proverbs) 24:5-6

Replies:

The scriptural way of dealing with your subordinates is by adhering to the basic principles of justice, fairness and mercy - all three wisely applied accordingly.

'Justice' means that the person in authority must give support, services, rewards, favors and support to those who are obedient, and also penalties, sanctions, punishments and denials to those who are rebellious to his policies, rules or regulations.

Another aspect of governing with justice is the cognizance of matters relating to seniority and rankings, overall attitudes, behavior and performances, rather than on personal likes and dislikes.

Authorities must also be fair in dealing their subordinates as far as common benefits or favors and provisions are concerned.

For example, all employees benefit equally from the comfortable working environment, adequate lighting in the workplace, equal opportunities for advancements, promotions, merits and the like.

A clear example of the difference between fairness and justice is to take the case of an office manager. If he is to be fair in dealing with his employees, he will give raises, promotions and bonuses to everyone under his employ regardless of ranks, performances, seniority and other performance criteria. He will give equally to all. Then he is fair to all.

What will be the ill effects of this fair way in the long run? There will be discontent among the employees, especially among those who excel in their job, among those who hold higher ranks of responsibility, among those who have worked longer in that company.

This way of handling subordinates demoralizes the work force, encourages laziness and eliminates motivations to succeed, excel and to endeavor for more.

Why? Because everyone receives the same anyway, so why try harder?

If the supervisor receives an added raise of $100 monthly, the same amount as the raise given to the janitor, the manager would be fair but utterly unjust to his subordinates. There is no incentive to excel and improve one's on-the-job performance.

The way of justice is to give each one his pay which is commensurate to the degree of his positive contribution in achieving the common goals of the entire work force. The way of fairness is to give to everyone equally without regard to performance or efforts expended in achieving the goal.

The correct and narrow way is for the authority to be fair as far as common benefits are concerned, but he must also be just in dispensing benefits which are beyond the basic and ordinary.

A company manager is fair because each employee receives the minimum wage set by the labor laws, but he is also just regarding the way he gives wages above the minimum wage limits.

The authority is fair when his policy is to penalize all violations and he is also just regarding the degrees of penalties imposed that are commensurate to the seriousness of each violation.

The just, equitable and proper way of giving benefits, raises or bonuses would be to base them on every employee's seniority, ranks of responsibility, on-the-job performance, loyalty, work attitudes and other merits.

To govern with both justice and fairness is the correct way of dealing with subordinates.

A just governance will encourage diligence, loyalty, sacrifice, excellence and progress by inculcating the proper motivations for success in the hearts and minds of the subordinates.

Fairness on the other hand will eliminate all kinds of discrimination, prejudice and favoritism.

In the family, the parents must deal with the children and other members of the household with justice and with fairness as well.

Even YÁOHU UL allots for the firstborn male in every family the double-portion for he will bear most of the responsibilities in life for his brethren. YÁOHU UL is just in dealing with His children, and He is also fair as far as common graces are concerned.

Parents must give the same love and care to all, that's correct, but priorities must also be given to the elder brother or female sibling over the younger ones, in cases of conflicts of interests. This way will train the children to respect their older brothers or siblings, to give way to them and treat them with respect and deference.

Rewards and benefits must also be given to each child based upon their attitudes and behavior toward their parents and toward their elder siblings, too. The unruly and the rebellious must be reasonably punished with penalties based upon the degree or seriousness of their offenses.

If the parents are fair to one and all, and give the same benefits to the obedient and to the unruly, and if the parents favor all no matter what the children's attitudes and behavior are, this will surely lead to moral decay and depravity in each child raised in such home environment.

Why? Because offenses, irresponsibilities, laziness, rebellions and hardheadedness are equally treated and dealt with as obedience, diligence and proper behavior. That's over-applied fairness. Truth over-applied becomes heresy.

If rankings in seniority among the siblings are disregarded, the difference in sexes are ignored, and the abilities or handicaps of each one are totally not taken into account at all by the parents in the guise of being fair to one and all, then confusion will ensue. And everyone knows that ha-satán is the author of confusion.

Misapplied fairness surely leads to discouragement and demoralization among subordinates. Where there is no justice, there is no peace. Rebellions will surely arise among the children against their parents who have raised them up over fairly, but unjustly. The parents were sincerely wrong.

'An upright person loves justice, but it is a calamity to evildoers.' - Maush'léi (Proverbs) 21:15

YÁOHU UL metes out to each one according to what his deeds deserve, as far as his rewards, benefits and graces are concerned.

But He also has some common graces from which everyone benefits, regardless, like the sunshine, rain and so on.

'For YÁOHU UL is kind both to the unthankful and the very wicked. Try to show as much compassion as your Father does,' as it is inscribed in Luke 6:35-36.

Fairness is a requisite when providing for common graces and provisions among the subordinates, but justice is also required in giving out additional benefits and rewards.

'Here is another exemplification of the Kingdom of Heaven:

The owner of an estate went out early one morning to hire workers for his harvest field. He agreed to pay them $20 a day and sent them out to work.'

A couple of hours later he was passing a hiring hall and saw some men waiting for jobs, so he sent them also into his fields, telling them he would pay them whatever was right at the end of the day. At noon and again around three o'clock in the afternoon he did the same thing.

At five o'clock that evening he was in town again and saw some more men walking around and asked them, 'Why haven't you been working today?'

'Because no one hired us,' they replied. 'Then go on out and work with the others in my fields,' he told them.

That evening he told the payroll clerk to call the men in and pay them, beginning with the last men first. When the men hired at five o'clock were paid, each received $20.

So when the men hired earlier came to get theirs, they assumed they would receive much more. But they, too, were paid $20.

They objected, 'Those fellows worked only one hour, and yet you've paid them just as much as those of us who worked all day in the scorching heat.

'Friend,' he answered one of them, 'I did you no wrong! Didn't you agree to work a day for $20. Take it and go. It is my desire to pay all the same; is it against the law to give away my money if I want to? Should you be angry because I am generous?'

'And so it is that the last shall be first, and the first, last.''

- Matthew 20:1-16, Holy Scriptures

In the way national governments are run, the officials holding ranks of authority must be just as well as fair in dealing with the citizenry. Injustice will consequently lead to discontent, clamor and rebellion.

If those who violate the law are not punished, and those who pay their taxes dutifully are the ones penalized by thorough monitoring of their finances, while the tax evaders and those who don't file any tax returns at all (but have much hidden taxable income) are untouched and ignored, and all receive the same social services and benefits from such government, time will come when nobody else would be willing to abide by its laws and regulations. Why? Because the government is fair to everyone, yet utterly unjust. Crime will increase thus eliminating peace, order and security among the populace. Where there is injustice, there will be no peace.

The right way is to punish those who violate the law, and no one should be above the law; also to encourage the upright and the law-abiding citizens by protecting them from abuses and harm, and by giving them additional incentives and social services.

Governments which are just as well as fair will survive for long and the whole nation will progress. Mercy, exemplified by pardons, is available to those who are truly repentant of their errors and wrongdoings, as long as they truly have changed, repented and rectified their mistakes. Mercy should never be granted to those who are unrepentant of their mistakes and sins.

'When there is moral decay within a nation, its government topples easily; but with honest, sensible leaders there is stability.' - Maush'léi (Proverbs) 28:2

'When a country is rebellious, it has many rulers, but a man of comprehension and knowledge maintains order.' - Maush'léi (Proverbs) 28:2

'When the upright triumph, there is great elation; but when the wicked rise to power, people go into hiding.' - Maush'léi (Proverbs) 28:12

'A tyrannical ruler lacks judgment, but he who hates ill-gotten gain will have a long life.' - Maush'léi (Proverbs) 28:16

'When the wicked rise to power, people go into hiding; but when the wicked perish, the upright thrive.' - Maush'léi (Proverbs) 28:28

'When the upright thrive, the people exult; when the wicked rule, the people groan.' - Maush'léi (Proverbs) 29:2

'By justice an authority gives a country stability, but one who is greedy for bribes tears it down.' - Maush'léi (Proverbs) 29:4

'The upright care about justice for the poor, but the wicked have no such concern.' - Maush'léi (Proverbs) 29:7

'A mocker agitates a city, but wise men turn away anger.' - Maush'léi (Proverbs) 29:8

'Bloodthirsty men hate a man of integrity and seek to kill the upright.' - Maush'léi (Proverbs) 29:10

'If a ruler hearkens to lies, all his officials become wicked.' - Maush'léi (Proverbs) 29:12

'If a leader judges the poor with fairness, his official throne will always be secure.' - Maush'léi (Proverbs) 29:14

'When the wicked thrive, so does sin, but the upright will see their downfall.' - Maush'léi (Proverbs) 29:16

'Where there is no revelation, the people cast off control; but favored is he who keeps the law.' - Maush'léi (Proverbs) 29:18

'The sayings of King Lemu-Ul - an oracle his mother taught him:

'O my son, O son of my womb, O son of my vows, do not spend your vigor on women, your virility on those who ruin leaders.

It is not for leaders to drink wine, nor for rulers to crave beer, lest they drink and forget what the law decrees, and deprive all the oppressed of their rights.

Give beer to those who are perishing, wine to those who are in anguish; let them drink and forget their poverty and remember their misery no more.

'Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.'' - Maush'léi (Proverbs) 31:1-9

In vain pride, one must never attempt to be more upright than YÁOHU UL Himself. Yes, YÁOHU UL is merciful but He also has His quality of being just that He should maintain and protect.

If He turns out to be the UL of all mercies, but yet unjust, He can never be the Pure and Holy One because He would be unjust; He would be imperfect.

'So never be too upright or too wise! Why ruin yourself! On the other hand, don't be too wicked either - don't be stupid!' - Ecclesiastes 7:16

Someone said that he cannot serve a Creator Who is less merciful than he, an ordinary mortal, could be, especially toward those sentenced to be executed for having committed heinous crimes.

This person has not yet realized that aside from being merciful, the Creator, YÁOHU UL, in His perfections, has also other qualities to protect and maintain, and one of this is His being JUST.

YÁOHU UL could never be all mercies and yet unjust, thus unholy or imperfect. He will forfeit His right to rule as the Holy One if He were unjust. Surely He is not unjust. So justice must always be tempered with mercy, correct, but an authority, in imitation of YÁOHU UL, must never be all mercies without justice.

To be just as well as fair is best; to be merciful also to the repentant is proper.

If someone attempts to outdo YÁOHU UL in being merciful, he will be unjust to the upright and biased towards the wicked.

A common example of this are parents who love their adopted and illegitimate children more than their true biological children, in their vain attempts to be holier than the Creator Himself.

Pride goes before ruin - of this exemplified family.

There are also those who pity the criminals more than the honest and law-abiding poor. There are also those who help the convicted murderers more than the handicapped orphans needing care and provisions. These are called misplaced mercies.

There are those who send foreign aid to groups of people abroad who are rebelling against their duly-constituted governments.

What they sow, they will surely harvest. These governments will also reap rebellions from its own populace.

Now you know why events are turning such as they are in some nations of this world, especially those which have records of helping and supporting rebels and terrorists in the past.

What they have planted in many parts of the world in the past, they surely are reaping now right in their own backyard.

Even nations and governments cannot separate the fruit from the seed.

The eternal Words of YÁOHU UL will always prove true and correct no matter who objects to, disbelieves or challenges them.

'Heaven and earth shall pass away but My Words will remain forever true,' said Molkhiúl YAOHÚSHUA.

For example, someone is being charged with a crime he did not commit and he has to suffer the humiliation, ordeal and public disgrace of being a suspect in the litigation involving a heinous crime.

As best as he can remember, he hasn't planted any seed of this kind in the past, but why the bitter harvest?

Or if one is being suspected of being or having committed something by his own authorities of which he is really innocent?

So always guard your sights, approvals, affections and desires because to approve of something is reckoned as participating in the accomplishment of such acts.

You must never approve nor take pleasure in any kind of evil!

Keep yourself from every kind of evil and your future will be pleasant, quiet, trouble-free and rich!

Always remember, too, that the judge's or the jury's verdicts are guided by the hands of YÁOHU UL. So whoever resists or disapproves of their verdicts (assuming that the case can no longer be appealed in higher courts) will likewise reap unpleasant harvests in the future.

In what way? The person who disapproves and resists the verdicts of duly-appointed authorities now will also render unpopular (but correct) verdicts, or rules or regulations and his subordinates or even the people unaffected by them will resist the orders, policies and express their blatant disapproval against such.

Why? One cannot separate the fruit from the seed.

YÁOHU UL detests all kinds of rebellion against His duly-appointed authorities.

If one takes pleasure in and heartily approves while another is UNJUSTLY condemned for a crime which he never committed, one bitter harvest from this bad seed is that he too would be condemned for a crime he would never have committed and would likewise undergo the same, if not worse, an ordeal in his life, unless this sin is confessed, repented of and be cleansed promptly by the 'DAM' (blood) of hol-MEHUSHKHÁY YAOHÚSHUA.

One must never condemn so he also will never be condemned, said hol-MEHUSHKHÁY YAOHÚSHUA. Let the law of the land or the words of YÁOHU UL condemn criminals and sinners, and not anyone because believers are forbidden to judge nor condemn others.

'Judge not and you shall not be judged,' hol-MEHUSHKHÁY YAOHÚSHUA said.

Again, YÁOHU UL's Words will prove true and effectual, no matter who challenges them. Heaven and earth will pass away but YÁOHU UL's words will always prove true and catch up with everyone, favorably or unfavorably.

Let's proceed to receive more scriptural wisdom and knowledge in the NEXT segment of these spiritually-awakening guidelines now....