Easier to ask Forgiveness than Permission

I recently committed what is often considered a cardinal sin in the world of church finance. I bought something for church without asking. I just bought it. I didn’t get permission, I didn’t see if it was ok. I wanted it, so I bought it.

I later had to go back and apologize for my indiscretion. I realize that a lack of planning on my part does not justify such action, but for a good portion of my life I’ve lived by the motto “It is easier to ask forgiveness than permission.” However, if you’ve ever worked with a financial department in any business or organization, you know that living by that slogan can quickly result in having a contract out on you. In fact, the more I live my life this way, the more trouble I find myself in, and the more often I find myself having to ask forgiveness.

I realized that I live out my faith this way sometimes as well. I shoot first and ask questions later, jumping into things without even asking God if He has an opinion. I make a plan, and only after I’ve started to put that plan in motion to I ask for His blessing. Sometimes I even choose to sin because I know I can always bask in God’s unconditional forgiveness rather than making the right choice from the start. But I think I’m starting to get tired of asking for forgiveness. While I love the fact that God has forgiven me, don’t get me wrong, I’m getting to a place in my life where making the right choices is finally looking a lot more fun that feeling guilt, embarrassment, and shame. From here on out, let’s all ask permission first, so we don’t have to ask for forgiveness.

And if you would, pray I get my money back for buying those water balloons and shaving cream (I’m a youth pastor, this is important stuff!)