Good Principles
Are you a person of good principles?
A very simple definition of principle is: a kind of rule, belief or idea that guides you. It serves as a foundation for a chain of reasoning or behavior. To strive to “be fair” with others is a good principle. One that promotes peace. That particular principle will positively impact both business and personal relationships.
Not all principles are good, however. Living by a “me first” principle, only harms others at multiple levels. The chain of reasoning that comes out of it is to get whatever it is that we want that belongs to others. Scammers come to mind. They utilize deceit to take from others. In like manner the ultimate scammer, Satan the devil, wants what it is that God’s faithful have — their very spiritual lives. He has his principles to deceive with, but we have God’s principles to be strengthened with.
In his prayer for those in Ephesus, the Apostle Paul said, “that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love” (Ephesians 3:16–17). To be rooted means to become stable, and grounded means to lay the foundation. Love is what we are rooted and grounded in. So, love serves as a foundation for a chain of spiritual reasoning or behavior. We know it is a fruit of the Holy Spirit, but love is also a guiding principle (among others) in our spiritual lives.
Love is a product of keeping the spirit of God’s law and that is made possible by yielding to the power of the Holy Spirit. In that state then, the principle of love will guide us to come to sound conclusions, rather than compromise, both in our daily decisions or when presented with deceit from any source – physical or spiritual.
Believers who live by godly principles will always stand fast in the faith.
Marshall Stiver
