Life Principles

April showers bring May flowers. This saying originated from the United Kingdom as a part of a longer weather lore. I first heard this saying when I was a little boy. The saying itself is connected to nature. In the spring snow melts and temperatures rise. These things are nature's way of preparing for planting and growth.

Gentle spring rains and beautiful flowers both have an aesthetic quality. The saying "April showers bring May flowers" creates anticipation and positive affirmation. Flowers are used in a variety of ways that all relate to aesthetics. We present flowers to our loved ones as an expression of our love. We use them as a part of the shrubbery around homes and others building to improve the overall appearance. They give a spark to the decor inside homes. Most places of worship will have at least one flower arrangement.

In this blog I want to present another way of thinking about the saying that April showers bring May flowers.

Think of "April showers bring May flowers" as a life principle.

Flowers are one of many life forms that make up our existence on planet earth. They take their place along with animals and human beings.

All life forms need nourishment.

Life does not create or sustain itself. I believe God is the Creator of all life on planet earth. When He created life, He also created the things that would sustain life. It is beautiful to watch flowers respond to the sunshine and showers. Pruning and fertilizer may aid the process but without the sunshine and showers, the pruning and fertilizer would be in vain.

The principle that life forms require nourishment is not confined to nature. The spiritual life of a believer must be nourished. The Bible enunciates this principle over and over again. One clear example is found in 1 Peter 2:1-3.

Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious.

Anyone who has read much scripture knows the Bible has laws and commandments. In places such as Psalm 119 the Bible adds other terms that are instructive as to how we are to live our lives such as testimonies, statutes, judgments, precepts and ordinances. Inclusive and beyond all these terms, the Bible clearly presents life principles that are crucial to the spiritual sustenance and nourishment of our lives. We would do well to seek out and apply these principles in our Christian lives.

Spiritual fruit is one sure sign that our Christian lives are being nourished. Jesus spoke extensively about the necessity and secret to fruit bearing in John 15.

"I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. ...Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. ...By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples" (John 15:1,2,4,8).

Before I end this blog, I offer one more example of a life principle found in the Bible. It's the principle of always doing good to others. We are commanded to love one another, treat others as we would have them treat us, etc. The principle I have in mind of doing good to others again goes beyond the commandments and laws. It is broader and more comprehensive and is found in Galatians 6:10.

Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all men, especially to those who are of the household of faith.

I had a simple experience today in which I tried to apply this life principle. The county I live in in South Carolina provides a place for residence to carry household waste, yard waste and practical any other trash of which you need to dispose. There are marked containers for the various forms of trash. I carried all of our waste to the recycle this morning. I had a bag of household waste in one hand on my way to the trash bin when I walked past a vehicle being driven by an elderly woman. She had her trunk open and was getting ready to reach in for a bag of household waste. Without thinking about it, I said to her, "I'll get that for you." I reached and grabbed her bag with my empty hand. I could tell she was surprised, but it was obvious that she was grateful. She smiled and said, "Thank you!"

What I did was no big deal. All it took was a simple reach of an empty hand. It took very little energy and no additional time. I didn't even need to slow down to reach and grab her trash bag. It was the simple application of a life principle.

The Bible is God's infallible word and is literally full of life principles. I want to look for them and live by them. What about you?

If April showers bring May flowers, surely seeking and living by life principles from God's word will do so much more. God grant it is my plea.