I WANT A PRINCIPLE WITHIN

“I want a principle within,

Of watchful, godly fear,

A sensibility of sin,

A pain to feel it near.” (Charles Wesley)

The “Principle Within” is that commitment to absolute INTEGRITY… To uncompro-

mising, honest living that squares with the character of God as revealed in Scripture.

“If you abide in My word… you will know the truth… Thou dost desire truth in the innermost being.”

(John 8:31, 32; Psalm 51:6)

How would I know if I am living by that “Principle Within”? Here are three specifics:

• Motives: I am resolved that in my dealings with people, there will be no hidden agenda:

No manipulation of others toward my own ends.

“Let your love be without hypocrisy.” (Romans 12:9)

• Impressions: I am resolved to not knowingly allow any impressions about myself or my

business that do not square with reality: No shading of the truth. No delaying of

payments. No cutting of corners on the quality of service or on the quality of the

product.

“You… outwardly appear righteous to men, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy… ” (Matthew

23:28)

• Speech: I am resolved to discipline my conversation in such a way that the verbalization

and the reality are precisely the same:

“Whatever you have to say let your ‘yes’ be a plain ‘yes’ and your ‘no’ be a plain ‘no’ — anything more

than this has a taint of evil.” (Matthew 5:37 – Phillips Translation)

Wesley went on to write:

“Help me the first approach to feel

Of pride or wrong desire:

To catch the wandering of my will,

And quench the kindling fire.”

Principled men and women who are determined to adhere to that godly “Principle Within”

are sensitive to the slightest inkling of compromise within their breast. QUESTION: “Are

you man or woman enough to belong to that rare breed of principled disciples of Christ in

an age of unprincipled people?” I know you are!