Well, we finished packing my brother and sister in law's things into the moving truck last weekend. Due to the several moves we have made, we were familiar with what is involved in a move, especially packing a truck to make everything fit. I am glad we were there to help. It became very obvious that if everything had not been carefully packed into that moving truck, it would never have fit. We nearly filled the entire truck.
It has occurred to me that our lives are like this. If our lives are not ordered, we will wind up crowding out some important things. Like packing a truck, ordering our lives takes careful thought, consideration, and planning. If we don't order our life, it will seem too full to put what we need into it, yet not have all that much in it due to wasted space.
"The plans of the diligent surely lead to advantage, but everyone who is hasty, surely to poverty (Prov 21:5)."
Isn't it ironic? If I pack things hastily into my life with little or no discernment, it gets crowded out with poverty, with "empty space." If I am diligent in ordering my life, I will not be impoverished, but have room for devotional time, family time, wife time, ministry time, work time, administrative time, and whatever else is needed. So, by what principle do I order my life? There has to be a method or scheme to pack the boxes in neatly, using the available space wisely.
"In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight (Prov 3:6)."
We usually think of "acknowledgment" as a recognition of someone or something. In Hebrew, it literally says, "In all your ways, know him." Knowing God means much more than just knowing he exists. In Hebrew idiom, "knowing" often implies a certain level of intimacy. In fact, to "know" someone was the Hebrew figure of speech for sexual union, where two become one physically, emotionally, and spiritually.
Knowing God intimately means being his "bride," (Hos 1-2; Eph 5:21-32), or being his "child" (Hos 11:1; Gal 3:26-27). When you know someone this well, it affects a change in your life. In this intimacy, we begin to think and act like him. In other words, we live a "godly" life. For instance, look at these two passages:
"Did not your father eat and drink And do justice and righteousness? Then it was well with him. He pled the cause of the afflicted and needy; Then it was well. Is not that what it means to know Me?" Declares the Lord (Jer 22:15-16)."
"For the Lord your God is the God of gods and the Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God who does not show partiality nor take a bribe. He executes justice for the orphan and the widow, and shows His love for the alien by giving him food and clothing (Dt 10:17-18)."
Since this is how God is, we are to be that way. The only way we can truly emulate God's character is by "knowing" him intimately. When we know him, then we can order our lives according to him. He would then make level paths for us (Prov 3:6). We will be much less likely to stumble and trip if we "know" him in all our ways. It is interesting to note that the word, "way" and the word "path" are actually synonyms of each other. You could very well translate this "In all your paths (or roads) know him." We should "know" him in all areas of our life.
So, when you are on the road to work, home, church, to a friends, or anyone else, imitate God's righteousness, grace, mercy, justice, kindness, and holiness. Don't try to pack things into your life that detract from God's character. Always ask the question, "Does what I am doing acknowledge my God?" If we order our life in this way, what is important will have no problem fitting on the truck.