80:20 Principle

Philippians 2:¹³ “For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him. God will continually revitalize you, implanting within you the passion to do what pleases him.” (NLT&TPT)

We are staying with the question from yesterday which is, how do I know if what I am doing is something God wants me to do? Or if it is just my idea and it can get me into trouble? And we began to talk about the eighty-twenty principle. If everything that is expressly clear and revealed in the Bible constitutes eighty percent of God’s will for us. There is still twenty percent that is not expressly clear in the Bible. For instance, should I travel tomorrow? It is not stated in the Bible. Should I emigrate with my family to ‘greener pastures’? The answer to that is not expressly stated in the Bible. Should I marry this person? It is not in the Bible? Should my children go to this school or that school? It is not in the Bible. So, how do you know it is God?

What this principle teaches us is that when I do the things that are revealed, God will reveal the ones that are hidden. When I do the things that God has revealed, God will reveal the ones that are hidden. For instance, love your neighbour as yourself, that is clear in the Bible. Yet some people insist that they do not love this person. And they cannot be associated with that person. How can you refuse to love your neighbour and you are praying that God should show you the mission field you should go to? You are wasting your time because you have not done the one that is revealed. God says to be kind one to another. You insist on being a mean person. But you are asking the Holy Spirit to speak to you on the job or the career direction you should take.

Most likely you will not get anything. If you say to God, ‘Lord I really do not have time to spend with You. I do not have any time to spend reading the Bible. Who has time to pray? I do not have time to fast. All this fasting, I am not the one who killed Jesus. I just want to know where You want me to live. Just tell me if I should marry this person or that person. I just want to do Your will. Just tell me the answer’. Let me tell you the answer; you do the eighty percent (80%), and God will show you the twenty percent (20%). When you do the eighty percent (80%) of God’s will that is extremely clear and expressly revealed in the Bible, God will show you the twenty percent (20%) that is not expressly revealed in the Bible. On eagle’s wings is risking.

2 Timothy 3:^16-17 “Every part of Scripture is God-breathed and useful one way or another—showing us truth, exposing our rebellion, correcting our mistakes, training us to live God’s way. Through the Word we are put together and shaped up for the tasks God has for us.” (MSG)

Prayer: Father, thank You for working in me. I receive the desire and power to do what pleases You continually. Implant in me the passion to live by Your truth, in Jesus Name. Amen!