What Principle Guides You?

We live in an age in which people are clamoring for the newest and latest singer, musician or actor to entertain them. It seems even in sports that for the most part no longer are people able to identify an athlete or sports hero that lives a life that defines good character and values. It seems the teams and athletes are concerned more about if they can beat the next team. Why is this? How have we advanced as a society and culture only to throw our advancements into the proverbial toilet?  Simply put, we sold our principle for gain.

When you study history one thing becomes clear, when a culture no longer cares about others that culture is doomed to extinction. The old saying, “If we don’t learn from the mistakes of the past we are bound to repeat them” may not be as correct as we thought. It may be if we don’t learn from our past successes and failure we won’t be around.

The Founding Fathers of our nation sacrificed everything, including their lives, to secure a nation that would out last themselves if only the future government and people were governed by men and women of principles. These principles were written into the Constitution of the United States and have, for the most part, served  this country well for over 200 years but this also seems to be changing. Let me first define what principles are and then move on with my observation of why we are losing ground fast.  I believe America and Christians are at a crossroad.

PRINCIPLES –

“A fundamental TRUTH or proposition that serves as foundation for a system of belief or behavior or chain of reasoning”

Though we still have the original Constitution on paper its principles are being eroded quickly by unprincipled leaders in America. Now, the stupid part is these rotten leaders are voted in by the general population. So who is to blame? I would suggest both though we need to investigate why. This is like the question, “Which came first the chicken or the egg? To me, its pretty simple. The chicken, of course, and then the chickens started laying eggs.

Principles, as good as they may be, can be lost or ruined. What the Constitution defines can not guarantee future generations success if they do not embrace those principles and understand how to protect them for future generations. From my perspective, if you want to dismantle a group or a nation you have to “Uneducate” the population so that they can’t comprehend what good principles are and then you can strip those principles away.  Once that happens you can build a system that makes little sense but seems to benefit the masses, at least in appearance. This would be branded as “Situational Ethics” which in truth is no ethics at all. Let me illustrate.

The story of the first king of Israel illustrated how situational ethics work and how God hates a false presentation of what godly leadership should look like. God defines in his word that he wants people who stand on the principles of his word that defines what justice and fairness looks like. So, let’s take a look at Saul and what happened to him and Israel when leaders acted like hypocrites and led their people astray.

1 Samuel 9:17                                                                                                                                                                                             When Samuel caught sight of Saul, the LORD said to him, “This is the man I spoke to you about; he will govern my people.”

The first king of Israel was not only a capable leader, he also was defined as a “Mighty Man of Valor”. You would think with that reputation he would have been a good pick to lead Israel. Secondly, he was handsome and taller than any other Israelite. Thirdly, and most importantly, scripture says God changed him from the inside out.  Look at what happened when the prophet Samuel anointed him.

1 Samuel 10:9-10                                                                                                                                                                                            As Saul turned to leave Samuel, God changed Saul’s heart, and all these signs were fulfilled that day. When he and his servant arrived at Gibeah, a procession of prophets met him; the Spirit of God came powerfully upon him, and he joined in their prophesying.

So everything points to a great start in the man and his leadership except it doesn’t work out that way. Within a short period of time, when the pressure was on, Saul compromised first with God and his directions and secondly, with his army which followed him. When a leader compromises on his principles (beliefs) he can be persuaded to do anything if the price is right or if the fear of loss is great. Saul compromised so badly that God took away his right to be king even though God intended to have him and his family be the line that future kings would come from. Samuel the prophet gave a stern warning about losing the principles of following the Lord and his commands. Saul heard this same warning yet failed to follow them himself.

Here is the predicament. If you fear the LORD and serve and obey him and do not rebel against his commands, and if both you and the king who reigns over you follow the LORD your God—good! But if you do not obey the LORD, and if you rebel against his commands, his hand will be against you, as it was against your ancestors.

So, the story goes that Saul and the Israelites get some courage now that they have a king to lead them and they rebel against the Philistines who were a bigger and stronger nation. During this confrontation, Israel became scared and went into hiding so king Saul started to lose his confidence. He abandoned his principles and thus started to offer sacrifice before going to battle, which is something he knew was forbidden. This was all for appearances, not for God’s future blessing in battle. Why did he do this? He did it because his principles were situationally driven, not heart driven, even though God changed his heart at the beginning of his kingship.

1 Samuel 13:7-10                                                                                                                                                                                       Some Hebrews even crossed the Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead. Saul remained at Gilgal, and all the troops with him were quaking with fear. He waited seven days, the time set by Samuel; but Samuel did not come to Gilgal, and Saul’s men began to scatter. So he said, “Bring me the burnt offering and the fellowship offerings.” And Saul offered up the burnt offering. Just as he finished making the offering, Samuel arrived, and Saul went out to greet him.

Samuel is so mad that he prophesies the end of Saul’s kingship as it was just getting started. Samuel said Saul’s obedience was more important than his sacrifices. Saul chose to violate principles for appearance with his troops.

What have you done?” asked Samuel.

Saul replied, “When I saw that the men were scattering, and that you did not come at the set time, and that the Philistines were assembling at Mikmash, I thought, ‘Now the Philistines will come down against me at Gilgal, and I have not sought the LORD’s favor.’ So I felt compelled to offer the burnt offering.”

“You have done a foolish thing,” Samuel said. “You have not kept the command the LORD your God gave you; if you had, he would have established your kingdom over Israel for all time. But now your kingdom will not endure; the LORD has sought out a man after his own heart and appointed him ruler of his people, because you have not kept the LORD’s command.”

I will continue this topic on the importance of our principles in part two and focus on how there are consequences when we sell these principles for an advantage with people, power or wealth. Saul, even though he was changed, corrupted his changed heart and the same can happen to us.

Questions

1) Do you have principles that you live by? God’s word should be your standard to develop them.

2) Have you compromised the principles you currently have? Confess your failure to stand on your principles and then ask the Holy Spirit to reveal why this happened.

May the Holy Spirit give us a mind to think clearly.

Pastor Dale