“Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters” (Gen. 1:2).
Do you feel at times that your office is formless and you wish God would do an organization ex nihilo on your work space, miraculously bringing organization where there was no organization?
In God’s creation account, we see Him systematically bring order out of chaos. Boundaries were set. Time was demarcated. He created a place for everything and put everything in its place. Deeper into Scripture, we find the Book of Numbers, the spreadsheet of the Bible. In the New Testament, 1 Corinthians 14 suggests that God is not a fan of disorder; and while organized living may not show up on a list of spiritual disciplines, it does appear to be a trait to which we should aspire.
The Text
The passages below touch on the idea of order and organization. In most passages, the context of the passage isn’t Organization 101. In fact, two of the immediate contexts are worship and Jesus’ resurrection; but you will see something that contributes to a big picture of orderliness that God apparently wants us to see. As you read these passages, look for the following and jot down notes on your observations:
• A character trait of God.
• An instruction to obey.
• An example to follow.
• “Be sure you know the condition of your flocks, give careful attention to your herds…” (Prov. 27:23).
• “Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there, and the face cloth, which had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself” (John 20:6-7).
• “For God is not a God of disorder but of peace…” (1 Cor. 14:33).
• “But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way” (1 Cor. 14:40).
• “The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers” (1 Pet. 4:7).
Think About It
If Proverb 27:23 were written in today’s vernacular, it might say, “Take care of your property; pay attention to maintenance schedules; balance your checkbook.”
The resurrection scene in John 20:6-7 may seem obscure regarding orderliness, but it’s always struck me that Jesus took time to fold (or wrap up, as the Greek suggests) His burial linens and that John took care to note this detail. There is something there about orderly living for us to notice and appreciate.
While the 1 Corinthians 14 verses refer directly to worship, they give great insight into a general principle of God: He is not a God of disorder.
In 1 Peter 4:7, we actually are given a spiritual reason, and perhaps the bottom line, for orderly living: We will have more time to pray.
Application
Here are three hyper-practical benefits of orderliness:
1. Save Time: You will spend less time hunting and shuffling. What might you do with that extra time? First Peter 4 tells us: pray. That’s big.
2. Build Credibility: Let’s face it: It’s easier to take someone seriously when he or she is not buried under piles of paperwork. This may not matter much to students, but it’s huge to parents.
3. Reflect Godliness: If you’re looking for a quick fix in reflecting the character of God, organize all the horizontal surfaces in your life. As you organize, picture Jesus taking the time to fold His burial linens. Meditate on the truth that God is a God of peace, not disorder. Then, watch the practice of organization—and the resultant peace—spill into other areas of life.
