Out of Order

“Let all things be done decently and in order,” 1 Corinthians 14:40, KJV.

We’ve all seen a sign that reads Out of Order posted on vending machines, treadmills, and bathroom stalls. Of course this is a clear sign that very thing isn’t working or is not working properly. We could try to use any of those items to no avail. Even if one part isn’t functioning, the entire thing is broken. Working together forms teamwork and from teamwork we get unity.

When the apostle Paul wrote the letter to the church at Corinth, he addresses the issues of sin problems. This was the church he helped found (Acts 18) before moving on to continue spreading the good news of the Gospel. I imagine that he cared for the church in Corinth and wanted to see it grow in the word of God as many there rejected God’s word all together. It is self evident as he pursued in the aid of their victory (in the faith), by sending word (in a letter) of how that success is made possible. And as he explains the conduct in which they should take on, he wraps it up in one verse, “Let all things be done decently and in order.”

How are we to know what’s decent and what is in order? Well, Jesus laid it all out for us in the Gospel, taking particular note of the Old Testament scriptures as well. And often we know the things that are orderly, but choose to either reject or ignore. One example is the male figure being the head of the house. Some women refuse to even entertain their husbands making final decisions in the home, yet they profess to respect their man. Where is the respect when he says, “No, we should wait on getting that,” and you go behind his back and get it anyway?

Another example is when children tell their parents what they should do versus listening to the parent’s instruction—out of order. It’s sad that in today’s world and I’m sure it has happened in the past, many parents are concerned with being their children’s friend instead of their role model. What do we think the future generation is going to look like?

There are many homes out of order, businesses that are out of order, and government offices that are out of order. The misuse of authority is taking this world in a downward spiral. The removal of prayer out the schools is self-evident. When we abandon the true and living God, we discard proper regulation. God is the only one who holds our lives together and the instructions He set forth for us to follow ensures our victory in the cause.

“But if anyone disregards or does not recognize [[a]that it is a command of the Lord], he is disregarded and not recognized [he is [b]one whom God knows not],” 1 Corinthians 14:38, AMP.