Philosophy, His Priorities 12.08.12
They say marriage is good for a man. If it is a good marriage it
will bring him contentment. If it is a poor marriage it will make of
him a philosopher. I am an example of the former, but it seems
good to me to set down the principles by which my life is guided.
You do not have to be a philosopher to have a philosophy. Every-
one has a philosophy, but most do not take time to examine it. If
we do not carefully research our philosophy, we can never know
why we do as we do and think as we think. Philosophy that works
has it basis in Scripture. (Word of God)
The first priority for a human being, is to recognize who God is
and get to know Him. (It is not enough to know about Him.) In his
book, "Knowing God," J. I. Packer quotes Charles H. Spurgeon:
“...Nothing will so enlarge the intellect, nothing so magnify the
whole of man, as a devout, earnest, continued investigation
of the great subject of the Deity.”
Before reading this book; it had not occurred to me, consciously,
that knowing God and knowing about Him are two distinctly dif-
ferent things. Why should we study God? Since God has created
us and is sovereign in His universe, we live dysfunctional lives,
without knowing Him, personally. We may have some limited suc-
cess in business or other endeavors without knowing God, but in
in order to live a well ordered, successful life, we must know the
one who created it all and is still in charge. So, within God’s plan
for my life, I will be successful first, at being a man, a husband, a
father and grandfather. With the same knowledge, success in every
other endeavor is assured. Success as defined in Scripture is our
goal...
Consider how this is worked out:
With God as my life source, I will live free from greed, selfish
ambition, worry and bitterness which will give me an emotional
balance on a Spiritual base. In the Old Testament book of I Chro-
nicles 4: 10, we see, “...Oh that you would bless me indeed, and
enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that
You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain..” (Used
in the book, "Prayer of Jabez")
I will, in the strength of the Lord, be a positive and encouraging
presence in my sphere of influence. We see in Proverbs 3: 5-10
critical principles of success. “Trust in the Lord with all your
heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways
acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. Do not be
wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and depart from evil. It
will be health to your flesh, (navel) And strength (marrow) to
your bones. Honor the Lord with your possessions, And with
the first fruits of all your increase; So your barns will be filled
with plenty, And your vats will overflow with new wine.”
(nkjv)
Success for a family man would be hollow unless his spouse and
offspring were also rightly aligned and successful. Since our
families are all important to each of us, our prayer for them must
be: “May the Lord God call them and choose each to be His child
and servant. may their lives glorify Him.” We also pray that this
family makes a difference for righteousness in this world and if
any of them has sin in their lives it would be forsaken and forgi-
ven.
"And it was so, when the days of their feasting were gone about,
that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the mor-
ning, and offered burnt-offerings according to the number of
them all. For Job said, 'It may be that my sons have sinned, and
cursed God in their hearts.' This did Job continually." Job 1: 5
May the Lord guide us through this time of trial, and present us
to Himself in victory as part of His perfected bride/church with-
out spot or blemish to make our eternal dwelling with Him as His
bride.” (Ephesians 5: 25-27)
We are part of the Family of God and trust that family reflects
the radiance of God, as the moon, having no light of it’s own,
reflects the glory of the sun. 2 Peter 3: 9
donporter 12.08.12 (ed. 4.04.15
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