Based on 1 Corinthians 14:26-40 (New King James Version)
“How is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification. If anyone speaks in a tongue, let there be two or at the most three, each in turn, and let one interpret. But if there is no interpreter, let him keep silent in church, and let him speak to himself and to God. Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others judge. But if anything is revealed to another who sits by, let the first keep silent. For you can all prophesy one by one, that all may learn and all may be encouraged. And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints. Let your women keep silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak; but they are to be submissive, as the law also says. And if they want to learn something, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is shameful for women to speak in church. Or did the word of God come originally from you? Or was it you only that it reached? If anyone thinks himself to be a prophet or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things which I write to you are the commandments of the Lord. But if anyone is ignorant, let him be ignorant. Therefore, brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak with tongues. Let all things be done decently and in order.”
There are many things that can be seen in this passage, things that are very controversial within our churches, and even in the society we live in today. But we will stick to the main theme, and especially the one that concerns every believer in Christ, the matter of order. Today, and more than ever, there is much disorder in the universal church of God, both at the congregational level and at the family and personal level. And of course, what produces such disorder is sin. Too many so-called believers in Christ have their lives in such disarray that they have become totally useless to the Lord, and that is a serious problem. And unfortunately, many of those who believe they are serving Christ are the ones who are in the worst of disorder problems, and in such a way that they believe they are exercising a ministry for the Lord, but in reality, the Lord is displeased with what they are doing because they are simply wrong.
The first problem that we can see is the issue of disorder within the things of the ministry. There are many people who are involved in so-called service for the Lord, but not for the right reasons. Many want to stand out humanly, to attract attention. Others do things with alternative reasons such as to profit from the things of God, for their own gain in one way or another. There are people who also get involved in the things of God to feel that they can exercise dominance over others, due to some leadership complex or hunger for power that they have. Others start doing things that seem spiritual even for entertainment, to have something to do, and nothing more. The vast majority of people do eventually enter and participate in the things of the Lord, but for reasons completely outside God's will. And that simply is useless, quite the contrary, it is a stumbling block for the ministry, for others, and of course, since God knows all things, also for their own harm, because they will be judged. This says the Word: “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’” Matthew 7:21-23. The all for God does not consist of what we do alone, but rather, why we do things. That is the most important thing to God. What is our motivation or our intention? If it is not done for the right reasons, then there is already disorder that will not lead to anything good.
The other problem of disorder that exists is within many of the Christian homes, that things are not subject to God, but rather, the majority of Christian homes are subject to the things of the world, to the satanic influences than to what God says. Many of the fathers are not being spiritual heads in their homes. Many of the women live in debauchery and moral disorder as well. Children are being raised the way of the world, either because the parents themselves are raising them that way, or because they let the world's system raise their children in school, through the media, and other things and people in the world’s environment. But unfortunately, there are very few families who observe God's principles to lead their homes as God commands. So, is it a mystery why there are so many divorces, so many broken homes, children of believers who even commit suicide, or children in so much disorder? Many homes claim to be Christians, but carry their things as if God did not exist, and as if such a judgment does not come before Almighty God where we will all give an account for our actions. In the end, all disorder is the product of satanic influence followed by feeding the desires of the flesh, sin.
Now, why is it finally important to do things in order? Because God is a God of order, and if we want to please God, we must live a life of order before God, for His glory, and to be able to genuinely serve Him, because that is the all of man, to love and serve God. above all things, and loving our neighbor as yourself. This is what the Lord Himself said: “Jesus answered him, ‘The first of all the commandments is: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment. And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” Mark 12:29-31. This should be the purpose of our existence, and the reason for why we do everything in life—spiritually, secularly, and personally. And if this is not the reason or motive for which all things are done, then there is disorder, and God will judge all disorder because it is sin.
Some may say: How can I put my life in order? Very easy. Treat the Lord Jesus Christ as who He is, as the King of kings and Lord of lords, and seek His wisdom. He must be Lord, which means that things are done as He says, and not as we think. The Word itself tells us this: “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.” James 1:5-8. Do not doubt that there is a God, because there is an Almighty God who will judge all things according to His truth, and not according to our opinions, and even less, according to the thoughts of the world and the enemy. Therefore, my advice is for you not to let yourself get carried away by the world’s disorder and the devil because we will all give an account before God, and the only thing that will matter at that time is if God approves of what we did. The Lord is God, and He will always be. So, do you have your life in order before God? Lord bless! John