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Order of Operations

  • Writer: John & Stephanie Butler
    John & Stephanie Butler
  • Aug 27, 2022
  • 5 min read

Updated: Oct 14, 2022

Do you remember learning the order of operations in elementary school (or middle school, or high school)? For those who may have blocked it from their memories, the order of operations is a rule that helps determine the correct sequence for solving a math expression. It wasn't until my son came home with his math homework that I learned the mnemonic device of PEMDAS.


PEMDAS stands for Parentheses, Exponents, Multiplication, Division, Addition, Subtraction. This gives you the blueprint for going about solving the expression. If you work the problem out of order, you will come up with the incorrect answer. Following the order of operations ensures if following the correct order, assuming you're calculating correctly, you arrive at the correct answer. I would have appreciated the mnemonic as a kid since math was nowhere near my strong suit. I ended up in the remedial class every year. In part because I didn't understand the "rules" of math. If someone explained that math is simply a sequence of instructions, follow them, and the answer takes care of itself, I would have been much better off.


Did you also know that God's word gives us an order of operations for our lives? Say what? No. Really. It does. It is simple! GSFWS. Not quite as memorable as PEMDAS, but still, there it is.


What does this mnemonic stand for? Well, I'm glad you asked:

God. Spouse. Family. Work. Service. There you go. You now have the order of operations for your life. Now that you have the blueprint follow it, and the rest will take care of itself. Ok, so you're probably reading this thinking, where did you get this from? As we said, God's word. Let's take a look:

God

But I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God.


He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.


'"Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. ' Matthew 6:31-33 https://my.bible.com/bible/114/MAT.6.31-33


'Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.' Proverbs 3:5-6 https://my.bible.com/bible/114/PRO.3.5-6


Spouse

Wives, submit to your own husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.


'submitting to one another in the fear of God.


Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husband

s in everything.' Ephesians 5:21-22,24


'Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her,' Ephesians 5:25 https://my.bible.com/bible/114/EPH.5.25


'Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.'


Ephesians 5:33


Family

'and said, 'For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh'? '


'Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it.' Proverbs 22:6 https://my.bible.com/bible/114/PRO.22.6


'Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord , The fruit of the womb is a reward.' Psalms 127:3 https://my.bible.com/bible/114/PSA.127.3


'Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord. ' Ephesians 6:4


Work

'Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. '


'and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you,'


Service

'Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord , and he will reward them for what they have done. ' Proverbs 19:17 https://my.bible.com/bible/111/PRO.19.17


'"The King will reply, 'Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.' For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'' Matthew 25:35-36,40


'Don't just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically. ' Romans 12:9-11

How does this order of operations help us determine priorities and live a balanced life? Well, as a believer in Christ, there is just no functioning in this crazy world without Christ. Period. Therefore, if you're not putting him first, bringing him into everything else that you're doing, you will get misdirected and confused. In this life, everything scrambles for first place except God. Therefore, putting God first is a choice we must make daily.


Once you have balanced yourself spending time with God, your spouse is your next area of focus. Why? Shouldn't my kids be next? My parents? My spouse can take care of themselves. We have our spouse next because when you are married, you are a TEAM. You are your spouse's "safe" place. The place where they can bounce ideas, ask for genuine feedback (even if we don't like it), and partner with us to follow the order of operations.


Family is next. Family isn't just your children. It's also your aging parents, aunts, uncles, cousins, stepparents, and the list goes on and on. Have you ever known a couple that has allowed their parents or children to dictate the atmosphere of their marriage? They're usually unhappy. When we're out of order, we're always unhappy, stressed, or looking for something to make us feel better because we know we're out of balance; we may not know why. Just like math, if you don't use the order of operations, you'll still get an answer. It will be the wrong answer, but it's still an answer.


Work and Service. We are designed with gifts, talents, and provided resources intended to help fill in the gaps for others. "We are blessed to be a blessing" is often heard in church circles. It's true. We aren't allowed to have homes, families, or jobs that provide income to hoard it. We're provided these things to share them. Hence service is the last place of order. If you spend without the financial resources you receive from working, you end up trying to give from an empty place. We are designed to pour out from a place of abundance. Our overflow, our abundance, is what we share. If you're in a place where your finances are not in abundance, then share your time. Time is more valuable! You can always make more money; you cannot manufacture one second more time.


So now the big question. Are you living your life and using the order of operations? Are you out of order? If so, look at your life and ask where you can make different choices to put yourself back in order. You will find that working in the correct order of operations will decrease your stress and increase your joy and peace. How about that?


Now that you know the order, use it. Then come back and tell us what a difference it has made. We love to hear our subscriber's testimonies of God's goodness.


As always, be well-fed friends. Until next time.


John & Stephanie

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