The Power of If

"God helps those who help themselves."

You can't find the word 'if' in this oft used phrase, but it's definitely an 'if' statement. I've heard people use this phrase as though it's in the Bible. Of course it's not in the Bible and as a matter of fact, it's not even a true statement about God. The whole idea that God will only help the helpful is not even in His nature. I think what's happened over time, as usual of course, is that people have taken what is true about them and made it true about God. We would do well to reverse the flow and have what is true about God be true about us.

Now that's not to say God isn't an 'if' God, because He is. In the search engine I use, there are 3,473 occurrences of the word 'if' in the King James Version and 3,522 occurrences in the New King James Version.

The word 'if' is a pivotal word for sure. It is the kind of word that puts pause, hope or doom in any statement. And therein lies the power of the word. 'IF' It's the ultimate conversational speed bump.

Not always is the word 'if' a speed bump, there are times even within the above mentioned occurrences that the word 'if' is used less dramatically as in the example of Noah in Genesis 8:8; "He also sent out from himself a dove, to see if the waters had receded from the face of the ground." However, even in this context the word 'if' is still pivotal in that Noah needed to know whether the water was still high or was it beginning to recede.

Think about it, without the word 'if' we wouldn't be able to frame or define consequence. The word 'if' is the fulcrum or tipping point in all our lives. The question that must be used when working with others, or even ourselves is; where will the tipping point be placed? Where you put the word 'if' in relationship is critical to how failure or success will be measured.

For example, the word 'if' introduced too early in the relationship can derail intention and placed too late in the relationship can weaken hope that anything will ever change.

IF is a powerful word.

Quoting part of a verse doesn't help either, as in; "I'm the head and not the tail." Partially quoted from the book of Deuteronomy chapter 28 verse 13, which in it's entirety says; "And the Lord will make you the head and not the tail; you shall be above only and not beneath, if you heed the commandments of the Lord your God, which I command you today, and are careful to observe them."

Spoiler Alert! You're not the head or above anything baby unless (if) you obey God and keep His commandments. IF you are an obeyer of God and a keeper of His commands - then quote on brother, I'm with you.

God has indeed placed 'if' in our relationship with Him and as a wise Father has measured 'if' for us in just the right places - not too early and not too late. He has placed the tipping points in all the right places. He loves us unconditionally and has forgiven us far more times than we've even forgiven ourselves - and yet has critically embedded 'if' so that we may know the boundary of our straight and narrow followership of Him ... now that's love. That's God!

Here's today's question, starting with yourself and then moving towards others; "Where is the critically placed 'if' in the conversation of relationships you're in"?

If the word 'if' is too early in the relationship, you're far to legalistic to be free enough to free others and if it's too late in the relationship, you're far to loose to be of any real service to those around you.

This is why I teach principle six in my Rescue Intensive; "Time is not a factor when you pursue the inevitable of God". When you take time off your wrist and build time into the person or relationship, then and only then will you know where the fulcrum or tipping point of the word 'if' belongs.

Dan
A Runner