The Well-Ordered Life!

September 25, 2022

The well-ordered life is beautiful to behold, but more imagined than real

in this era (I might be skeptical at 77 years old). Strife, fighting, lust, and

pride seem more obvious than humility, gentleness, and seated folks “in

their right minds”. More people are out to get than are going about doing

good, and we’re discovering that our lack is due to our failure to make

requests of God. We fight and war to succeed, meanwhile we are oblivious

to the truth that God is the source and the creator of all. He alone can

withhold or open the windows of heaven. But even those in the know

often go without because they can and do think only of themselves. They

befriend the world and hope to profit from that wisdom rather than the

wisdom which comes down from the Father of lights. He gives more grace

to the humble and resists the proud as both scripture and history confirms.

The man who directs his own steps stumbles often and fails, but that one

who humbly yields to our Lord’s commandments, never exalts himself,

inherits the earth and enjoys the same. Whether he has little or much he

acknowledges that it is more than he deserves and because of this attitude

he is able to rejoice. Being thankful instead of hateful is easy for him as he

adds up the blessings of family and friends. Counting dollars seems never

to satisfy those who do so, but counting upon the Lord is reward,

insurance, and blessings abundant for the man with a well-ordered life

(James 4). His guarantee is that God will exalt him to the degree that he

humbles himself (James 4:10). As he refuses to speak evil of others,

especially other Christians, God gives him praise. Learning that God is

both law-giver and judge helps his tongue stay in place because he knows

he is never in charge. The well-ordered life keeps God always in his plans

for tomorrow and is constantly aware of the shortness of his life. So, he is

able to do that which is good right now and allow tomorrow to come, if it

does, with its own problems and trials - all the while knowing with God all

things are possible. It is a well- ordered life that has time to listen!

Dr. Kenneth E. Morrison