Life Principles

LAW 22
USE THE SURRENDER TACTIC: TRANSFORM WEAKNESS INTO POWER

When you are weaker, never fight for honor’s sake; choose surrender instead. Surrender gives you time to recover, time to torment and irritate your conqueror, time to wait for his power to wane. Do not give him the satisfaction of fighting and defeating you—surrender first. By turning the other cheek you infuriate and unsettle him. Make surrender a tool of power.


Loosely related Bible stories...

Dinah, Simion and Levi in Genesis 34:1-31.

The inhabitants of Gibeon (Chephirah, Beeroth, and Kiriath-jearim) in Joshua 9:3-27.
 
LAW 23
CONCENTRATE YOUR FORCES

Conserve your forces and energies by keeping them concentrated at their strongest point. You gain more by finding a rich mine and mining it deeper, than by flitting from one shallow mine to another—intensity defeats extensity every time. When looking for sources of power to elevate you, find the one key patron, the fat cow who will give you milk for a long time to come.


Deuteronomy 8:18a
You must remember the Lord your God, for he is the one who gives ability to get wealth…

Romans 8:31
If God be for us, who can be against us?

Matthew 6:33
But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

Matthew 13:22
As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful.

John 5:19
So Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise."

1 Corinthians 9:24-27
Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So, I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.

2 Timothy 2:4
No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him.
 
LAW 24
PLAY THE PERFECT COURTIER

The perfect courtier thrives in a world where everything revolves around power and political dexterity. He has mastered the art of indirection; he flatters, yields to superiors, and asserts power over others in the most oblique and graceful manner. Learn and apply the laws of courtiership and there will be no limit to how far you can rise in the court.


2 Corinthians 9:19-23

For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them. To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings.

Adam Clarke Commentary

I am made all things to all men - I assumed every shape and form consistent with innocency and perfect integrity; giving up my own will, my own way, my own ease, my own pleasure, and my own profit, that I might save the souls of all.

Let those who plead for the system of accommodation on the example of St. Paul, attend to the end he had in view, and the manner in which he pursued that end. It was not to get money, influence, or honor, but to save Souls! It was not to get ease but to increase his labors. It was not to save his life, but rather that it should be a sacrifice for the good of immortal souls!

A parallel saying to this of St. Paul has been quoted from Achilles Tatius, lib. v., cap. xix., where Clitophon says, on having received a letter from Leucippe: Τουτοις εντυχων παντα εγινομην ὁμου, ανεφλεγομην, ωχριων, εθαυμαζον, ηπιστουν, εχαιρον, ηχθομην· "When I read the contents, I became all things at once; I was inflamed, I grew pale, I was struck with wonder; I doubted, I rejoiced, became sad." The same form of speech is frequent among Greek writers. I think this casts some light on the apostle's meaning.
 
LAW 25
RE-CREATE YOURSELF

Do not accept the roles that society foists on you. Re-create yourself by forging a new identity, one that commands attention and never bores the audience. Be the master of your own image rather than letting others define it for you. Incorporate dramatic devices into your public gestures and actions—your power will be enhanced and your character will seem larger than life.


2 Corinthians 5:17
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

Adam Clarke Commentary

The man is not only mended, but he is new made; he is a new creature, καινη κτισις, a new creation, a little world in himself; formerly, all was in chaotic disorder; now, there is a new creation, which God himself owns as his workmanship, and which he can look on and pronounce very good. The conversion of a man from idolatry and wickedness was among the Jews denominated a new creation. He who converts a man to the true religion is the same, says R. Eliezer, as if he had created him.

Romans 12:2
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Adam Clarke Commentary

Let the inward change produce the outward. Where the spirit, the temper, and disposition of the mind are not renewed, an outward change is of but little worth, and but of short standing.

2 Corinthians 4:16
So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.

Ephesians 2:10
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
 
LAW 26
KEEP YOUR HANDS CLEAN

You must seem a paragon of civility and efficiency: your hands are never soiled by mistakes and nasty deeds. Maintain such a spotless appearance by using others as unwitting pawns and screens to disguise your involvement.

That's not keeping your hands clean! That's about being a phony—about creating a false image, putting up a façade. What hypocrisy!

In Matthew 7:15 the Bible instructs us, not to be people like this, but to watch out for them: "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves."

Yes, as suggested in 1 Thessalonians 5:22, we should keep our hands clean, but this should be genuine: Abstain from every form of evil.

We see the same sort of message in Titus 1:7-9: For an overseer, as God's steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain; but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.
 
LAW 27
PLAY ON PEOPLE'S NEED TO BELIEVE TO CREATE A CULTLIKE FOLLOWING

People have an overwhelming desire to believe in something. Become the focal point of such desire by offering them a cause, a new faith to follow. Keep your words vague but full of promise; emphasize enthusiasm over rationality and clear thinking. Give your new disciples rituals to perform, ask them to make sacrifices on your behalf. In the absence of organized religion and grand causes, your new belief system will bring you untold power.


Ecclesiastes 3:11 says that God planted eternity in the human heart, which is why people seem to have an innate longing for some purpose that goes deeper than the mere satisfaction of physical desires—for something greater than themselves. God placed eternity in our hearts so we would hunger and thirst for Him, resulting in a "built-in" propensity to worship that must be satisfied, if not by God, then by something else.

However, the impulse to worship often results in destroyed lives when it is not directed to the one true God, and making one's self the focal point of this desire is like playing with fire.

Adolf Hitler had untold power, yet ended up committing suicide by swallowing a cyanide capsule and shooting himself in the head. Vladimir Lenin was badly injured after being shot twice by Fanny Kaplan. He was only 53 years old when he died, supposedly of an incurable disease of the blood vessels or from a cerebral hemorrhage. But, according to another account, he died of syphilis contracted from a Parisian prostitute. Pol Pot had to take refuge in the jungle for roughly 18 years, but was eventually put on trial, and then sentence to life in prison. Napoleon Bonaparte was exiled to a remote British-held island and died at age 51, from what is believed to have been stomach cancer.

To offer someone something to believe in above and beyond Yeshua Hamashiach, a "new faith to follow," is pure folly. God is the truest source of promise, and He eliminates any need to "emphasize enthusiasm over rationality and clear thinking," since Scripture makes clear that the worship of God involves both. Performing rituals and making sacrifices to or for anything other than Yahweh simply leads to an eternity of pain, suffering, and anguish.

In the words of Christ: "What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul?"

And of course, the perspective of God Himself is reflected in what He had to say to the rich man with an abundance of goods; who planned to relax, eat, drink, and be merry...

"Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?"
 
LAW 28
ENTER ACTION WITH BOLDNESS

If you are unsure of a course of action, do not attempt it. Your doubts and hesitations will infect your execution. Timidity is dangerous: better to enter with boldness. Any mistakes you commit through audacity are easily corrected with more audacity. Everyone admires the bold; no one honors the timid.


Any mistakes you commit through audacity are easily corrected with more audacity? This sound an awful lot like Donald J. Trump to me!

I agree boldness has its place and that if you are unsure of a course of action you should not attempt it. But, it seems to me that boldness needs to be genuine and not an attempt to compensate for one's insecurity or to distract people from noticing one's errors. I would be very wary about adopting such an attitude given the existence of Scripture such as the following:
  • When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom.
  • Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.
  • One's pride will bring him low, but he who is lowly in spirit will obtain honor.
  • "Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate."
  • God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.
  • Everyone who is arrogant in heart is an abomination to the LORD; be assured, he will not go unpunished.
  • Before destruction a man's heart is haughty, but humility comes before honor.
On the other hand, verses like those below make it clear that boldness does indeed have its place. But, it's primarily when one is carrying out tasks assigned by one's Creator. Yet even then, you had better be sure that what you are doing is without question, what God wants you to do, as suggested by James 3:1, which states that: "Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness."
  • The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are bold as a lion. Proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance. In whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him.
  • And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.
  • And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, since we have such a hope, we are very bold, so we can confidently say, "The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?"
  • Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus.
  • Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go."
  • And [pray] also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel.
  • ...I am bold enough in Christ to command you to do what is required. For God gave us a spirit—not of fear—but of power and love and self-control.
  • I am acting with great boldness toward you; I have great pride in you; I am filled with comfort. In all our affliction, I am overflowing with joy.
  • And Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly, saying, "It was necessary that the word of God be spoken first to you. Since you thrust it aside and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we are turning to the Gentiles."
The Messiah Himself hinted at a need for boldness when He said, "…you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them and the Gentiles. When they deliver you over, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour. For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you."

But again, this illustrates how one's boldness should stem from doing what God would have you do, as led by the Holy Spirit, and not from one's own personal sense of greatness.
 
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expiated said:
this illustrates how one's boldness should stem from doing what God would have you do, as led by the Holy Spirit, and not from one's own personal sense of greatness.
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To imagine you are doing "what God would have you do, as led by the Holy Spirit," is itself a manifestation of one's own personal sense of greatness.

It is a twisted and immoral faith mentality that considers itself set apart in a great fantasy of piety that grants special license to do things, good , bad and reprehensible, then shirk all responsibility in the name of a personal celestial puppet master.
 
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