The Cult of What If

I had an old preacher many years who gave many pearls of wisdom, some were very helpful and some were very funny - but they all had a good application. Once he simply defined tithing thusly: “Tithing is God’s way for God’s people to do God’s business.” Sometimes his wisdom would end up contradicting other wise statements he would make. For instance, he would say: “Tired men rule the world,” but then two weeks later he would say: “Never make a decision when your are tire.” Both are wise statements, but they just don’t go well side by side.

There was another statement that he made that has stuck with me for all these years. He would say (and very directly): “I DON’T DEAL IN WHAT IF’S.” He would say this in response to people when they gave an excuse in the form of “What if this happens” to allow justification of some sin or why they could not commit to something.

I’ve thought a lot about that statement through the years and how to apply and even see if there is biblical support for it, and there is.

The Bible says in:

Proverbs 22:13 The slothful man saith, There is a lion without, I shall be slain in the streets.

This truth is repeated several other times in Proverbs. The Lord Himself is speaking to us in:

Matthew 6:33-34 ³³ But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. ³⁴ Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

Let's be sure to live our lives, not by things that might be (especially when they discourage us from doing right or good), but rather live by the facts and the things we know to be true. The Word of God and the will of God. Don't let weather reports, news reports, or possible but unlikely dangers keep us from being who God wants us to be.

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