Chaplain Ronnie Melancon

By: Chaplain Ronnie Melancon

Thibodaux Police Department

Louisiana, USA

Years ago I went to a John Maxwell Leadership Seminar. I was a young preacher looking to be more effective in helping people and leading the Church I pastor.

From what I had heard, Maxwell was the man who could help me. On my arrival to the seminar, one of his opening remarks went like this:

Methods are many, Principles are few. Methods always change, Principles never do. He then taught 10 principles that will definitely change your life if applied. Two of them stand out to me today.

#1 – Pay Now, Play Later – Years ago stores had the Lay-Away plan. You paid on an item until it was paid in full, then you went to the store and received the package. Credit cards reversed that wise order, and today too many feel they are entitled without paying the price.

We live with things before we can afford them, and wind up stressed out and eventually impoverished.  If you live your life for playing, somewhere in a short future you will get the bill.

You truly do reap what you sow (Gal 6:7). Live life working wisely, honestly, and faithfully, and your future will be full of the fruit of good seed.

#2 – People Don’t Care How Much You Know, Until They Know How Much You Care – A wise teacher once taught me that the Heart of a person is like a house with a door.

When someone shuts that door to you, all the words of Wisdom, Truth, and Knowledge cannot open that door. Only Love can open it to you. I’m not talking about emotional, mushy kind of love.

I’m talking about laying-your-life-down kind of love. Caring for others above yourself. Christ said that there is no greater kind of love than the lay-your-life-down kind of love. When people know you genuinely care, then they will listen to what you have to say.

These are two simple principles that never change. If you are not living by them, try it. Start today working to live a Principled Life. I guarantee that your altered lifestyle will reward your future abundantly.