Recently, I was discussing something with a family member, and when I told them how I hoped things would go, they quietly reminded me that it was possible things would not, in fact, work the way I wanted. It irritated me at first, but then I pulled myself back down to earth and had a little talk with the Lord. In truth, it might not go the way I want, but that wasn’t what bothered me. I can handle things if they don’t work out the way I’m hoping because that is just life. My bigger concern is whether I am obeying what God wants me to do, or am I trying to make things go my own way? Ah, this was the question God wanted me to confront.
Commit your activities to the Lord, and your plans will be established. (Proverbs 16:3, CSB)
I have largely been an obedient person in my life. I’ve always been selective about my decisions, and I’m careful about challenging authority until I’ve examined all the angles. However, when I see a major flaw, I’m not shy about asking questions and pushing back. I may push back in creative ways, but I will push back. On more than one occasion, I have lived by the maxim that it is easier to seek forgiveness than it is to get permission, and most of the time it works out because I’ve thought through the decision before taking the action. However, this conversation made me ask myself the tough question about obedience. I don’t apply the “seek forgiveness instead of permission” rule to God, or so I thought.
In all my planning, was I being obedient to God or myself? As a rule, I have found that some humans don’t care about obedience to others or even self. Self-control is a form of obedience, but there are plenty of people who don’t exercise it. I must admit that I didn’t like the answer when I examined my motives. On some issues, I was staying in line by obeying God, but there were a few areas in which I was going rogue and doing things my own way. It didn’t take me long to figure out which plans were failing. For some things, I was lacking self-discipline, another form of obedience, to apply the ideas. On other things, I had just gone off track with ideas that weren’t productive at all.
For the last couple of weeks, I’ve been studying what the Bible has to say about obedience. What I found was how entwined obedience is with trusting God and His will, being humble, acknowledging God’s power, accepting selflessness, and receiving blessings. We don’t obey someone we don’t trust so trusting God is key to obeying Him, and now I’m beginning to understand why God wanted my trust so much that He challenged me to trust Him this year more than ever before. That trust is pulling me back into obedience, and obedience is teaching me to put aside my own wants for what God is asking me to do.
In 1 Kings 3, Solomon asked for wisdom to lead the people, and God promised Him wisdom. God also promised Solomon a long, blessed life as long as Solomon was obedient to God’s commands. There were consequences when Solomon disobeyed (1 Kings 11). As our Sunday School class has studied through the Bible, we have seen ample evidence of what happens when people disobey God, and it isn’t always direct punishment from God that catches up with them. It is often the consequences of their actions that punish them the most, and sometimes those consequences come far down the road from the original sinful action. However, the consequences do come.
My biggest concern right now is getting my work goals in line with God’s expectations. In other words, are my work goals reflecting a life lived for the Lord? Not all of my writing is about Christian concepts, but I can write in a way that reflects my love for God and people. Not all of my reading is from Christian material, but I can seek to interpret any material through the lens of my faith. God is asking for trust, obedience, humility, acknowledgement, selflessness, and alignment with Him, and in return, He’s promised blessing, grace, mercy, and love even when I’m at my worst.
If you are struggling to obey God in your work, you are not alone. I’m right there with you as I learn to obey God in all things personal and professional. Some days, it is easier than others. On those days when you are struggling, read some of the following verses to get yourself back on track, and then go to the Holy Scriptures and look for even more guidance from God. It makes obedience easier when we understand what He expects from us and what He provides in return.
- Peter and the apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than people.” (Acts 5: 29, CSB)
- Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding; in all your ways know him, and he will make your paths straight. Don’t be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and turn away from evil. This will be healing for your body and strengthening for your bones. (Proverbs 3:5-8, CSB)
- But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you. Therefore don’t worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. (Matthew 6:33-34, CSB)
- Many plans are in a person’s heart, but the Lord’s decree will prevail. (Proverbs 19:21, CSB)
- This is how we know that we know him: if we keep his commands. The one who says, “I have come to know him,” and yet doesn’t keep his commands, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps his word, truly in him the love of God is made complete. This is how we know we are in him: The one who says he remains in him should walk just as he walked. (1 John 2:3-6, CSB)
All Things Subject to Change 