Being in Order!

Or did the Word of God originate with you? Or are you the only people it has reached? If anyone things they are a prophet or otherwise gifted by the Spirit, let them acknowledge that what I am writing to you is the Lord’s command. But if anyone ignores this, they will themselves be ignored. Therefore, my brothers and sisters, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues. But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way. (I Corinthians 14:36-40 NIV)

Instructions pertaining to conducting an orderly worship service, transcend how things should be done in church into orderly function of any entity. To avoid chaos and confusion, order must be established in the function of one’s home, businesses, and personal life. For without order–chaos reigns.

If more people would apply The Word to daily living, we could avoid some of the trials and challenges that occur in our lives. Even though many might say, “I don’t believe in God or the Bible,” the intent behind or contained within The Word–is still applicable to anyone who chooses to apply it to their lives.

What’s amazing to me is the number of people who think all of “positive thinkers” and motivational speakers are so great, but they cannot receive the Word of God. In listening to some of the well-known motivational speakers, I’ve detected their use of The Word as a basis for just about everything they say–much coming from Proverbs and the parables Jesus used to teach others about life. Of course, when people don’t know The Word, they have no clue where the speakers got much of their insight and they are left thinking mere mortals are greater than God.

Consider what Jesus said about “counting the cost” before building a house. His reference is to a person being wise and knowing how much the house is going to cost before going ahead and starting building. In life, there are many things we plan to do, but it is only those plans we have carefully considered, that actually work.

And all of the positive thinkers–they get their foundational exhortation from, “As a man thinks, so is he,” and “life and death are in the power of the tongue” all from The Word. There’s much more, but this limited venue precludes me from going further.

So, in the passage where Paul is encouraging people to conduct a worship service decently and in order, the same is true for other aspects of living. When there is no established order in a home–there is filth and confusion. When there is no established order in a person’s personal life–not much is accomplished. And when established order in business is ignored, the end results could be disastrous. There is a rhyme and reason for establishing and adhering to order in all areas of our lives. God plans for us to be prosperous as our soul prospers, but He has provided an order for us in His Word so we can be successful in accomplishing His plans.

Whenever things are not done decently and in order–confusion arises, chaos ensues, feelings get hurt or valuable resources put at risk. Whenever any one person thinks they can change the established order of anything (other than their own lives), they risk an eruption and disruption of everything. In all things, we must consider the costs of our actions.

In order to maintain reputations of honor and integrity and wisdom in all we do, in who we are, and what we stand for, we must act with integrity in all matters and do all things–decently and in order–considering the cost before we do anything.

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Everything Done in Order!

“But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way.” (I Corinthians 14:40 NIV)

Paul’s advice to the church to maintain order in all things is an approach we should use in every aspect of our lives. If there is no order, there is chaos and confusion; where there is chaos and confusion, God is not involved.

The first thing we need to keep in order is our thought life. Chaotic and confusing thoughts lead to behaviors that are not orderly. This is why we have so violence in our society and disrespect/disregard for life. There is no order in the minds of those committing hateful acts against others.

If we get our thought life in order, our actions will represent how we think–order–in all things.

If we get our behavior in order, we reduce crime and hateful acts and create an environment for harmony and peace which is how God wants us to live.

When we are in order–our homes are in order–everything is done decently and in order. There is no domestic violence in the home, there is no filth in the home, there is nothing going on in homes that will negatively impact children and their ability to succeed in life. Spouses know how to communicate and parents know how to parent when homes are in order.

When home lives are in order–we have order in society since every home is part of society. We change things for the better and do what is always right.

When we live in an orderly society, the results are seen in everything that occurs within that society and all people are respected and all things are accomplished in an orderly manner, without confusion.

Though many think the Scriptures are an out-dated reference for living, if people were to examine what we do on a daily basis in business and government, they would discover the Biblical foundation for how things get done. In time we deter from the foundation, things crumble and fall. If we listen carefully to well-known motivational speakers–what they say has biblical foundation, most from Proverbs. Parliamentary procedure was born out of Paul’s advice for order and just about every legal organization uses Robert’s Rules of Order as a guide for keeping “order” in meetings.

Having order in our lives means we work on the front end, establishing guidelines to maintain order and then we simply abide by the order established. Order in the church, homes, government, will lead to peace and harmony, when maintained.