The Secret of Stability

Photo by: xedos4

Do you find yourself tossed to and fro with the demands that are on you, the influence of friendships, fashions and fads, the cry of the urgent, and the winds of change? Do you long for stability?

My friend Ashley shared this week how Psalm 15 promises stability. Verse 5, at the very end of the chapter, says, He that doeth these things shall never be moved. So the next question is “What things? What do we do so that we are never moved?”

The Psalmist David asks the same question, but in a different way: LORD, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill? Who is the person who is living (abiding) in God’s dwelling place?

And here’s the answer:

• He that walketh uprightly—He does what’s right, every day. It’s his lifestyle to do right.
• and worketh righteousness—He does good works.
• and speaketh the truth in his heart—The Bible says, out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh (Matthew 12:34b). If our heart is truthful, what we say will be truthful. This person thinks and speaks truth.
• He that backbiteth not with his tongue—He doesn’t criticize others behind their backs.
• nor doeth evil to his neighbor—He doesn’t do others wrong.
• nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbor—He doesn’t scorn others.
• In whose eyes a vile person is contemned—He isn’t a friend to evil companions. He rejects friendships with those who would lead him astray. Proverbs says, He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed (13:20). Whoso keepeth the law is a wise son: but he that is a companion of riotous men shameth his father (28:7). This person makes wholesome friendships.
• but he honoureth them that fear the LORD.—God honors the person who respects Him.
• He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not.—This person is more concerned for others than himself. He is dependable.
• He that putteth not out his money to usury—He doesn’t try to make a profit from others.
• nor taketh reward against the innocent.—He is fair to the less fortunate and doesn’t accept bribes.

That’s quite a list, but remember the promise: He that doeth these things shall never be moved.

Never moved.

Stability.

That’s the person who abides with God.