I’m Not A Man of Principles Any More
So I’ve been an on-and-off reader of Oswald Chambers over the years, but I didn’t really connect. Recently a friend quoted something quite impactful that he wrote. This caused me to pull out my copy of “My Utmost for His Highest”. God has been really working on my heart lately, for which I’m thankful…most of the time. I think my lack of connection with Chambers has/had more to do with my heart then his writing. I am beginning to think he was/is a fairly spiritually mature man. God has used this book to speak to me lately (Of course He is faithful and merciful enough to use whatever tool you provide☺). His May 9th thought from Proverbs 29:18 is particularly applicable to me. He is discussing the difference between vision & revelation and principles. In this discussion he says, “A principle does not come from moral inspiration, but a vision does. People who are totally consumed with idealistic principles rarely do anything.” I am convicted by how that has characterized my life. I have not ‘done nothing’, but I have been more concerned with idealistic principles. When I focus on getting the principles right by mere discussion, thinking and analysis, I am using worldly wisdom and am in danger of ‘always learning and never coming to a knowledge of the truth’ (II Timothy 3:7).
In James 3:13ff the Lord’s brother defines and discusses Godly wisdom: “Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show it by his good behavior, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.” Godly wisdom comes from and is expressed in doing. “But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.” (James 1:22). In the last 20-30 years I have focused on understanding, defining and expressing the way things should be, the principles. I attended Bible/Preaching school and got A’s because I was able to understand and express the principles fairly well. There is nothing wrong with knowing the principles of God, but I had deluded myself. I’d convinced myself that what I taught could be separated from what I did. After all, not one is perfect and I am covered by grace…right? I taught principles I’d never practiced and deluded myself into thinking that was OK. I focused on knowing the word and expressing it persuasively…that was easier the doing it. When I did this, I was complimented and praised for my good teaching and preaching. I am fearful of James’ exhortation to teachers…thank God for His grace and His faithful work in my heart! I will not teach mere principles again, I will teach from the experience of God’s work in my life. I want my life, and any teaching God allows me to do, to spring from the moral inspiration of trusting God and seeing Him come through! (And boy does He come through!) This comes from first obeying and trusting Him…completely, in everything, no exceptions! I can make no provision for the flesh and its lusts (Romans 13:14). I am not God and as I have started to do this, it is amazing how God works! He is so very faithful and I can’t wait to see what He will do next! I will spend the next 20-30 years (God willing) focused on doing the word, His word, not mine. I pray that He develops Godly behavior expressed in the humility of wisdom in me. Lord help me be a man of action, not merely a man of principles. Help me to prove myself a doer of the word!