Is What I Want To Do The Will Of God?

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Introduction

Management gurus talk about “decision quality.”  The idea is that the more facts you have, the more likely the decision will be right.  That sounds wonderful, but it doesn’t work for most decisions.

Coca-Cola introduced New Coke after giving samples to many people, spending a lot of money on studies, and the product failed utterly.  All their facts didn't help them see that Coke fans didn’t want change no matter what people thought of the new flavor.  When they asked if people liked the new flavor, they forgot to ask would it be OK to replace Old Coke with New Coke.  The answer to that question was “No!”

They had lots of facts, but it wasn’t a fact-based issue; customers had an emotional attachment to Old Coke.

Many decisions don’t tie to facts.  Whom should we marry?  How should we raise children?  Would it be okay for this child to visit that friend?  Which TV programs should we watch, if any?  Which books should be in our home?  Should our kids have Facebook or email?  Does this child need discipline, an explanation, or both?  We can share experiences with other parents and church members, but these high-value decisions are made without facts because we can’t know how such decisions will turn out.  We need what the Bible calls “wisdom.”

Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.  Proverbs 4:7

What’s the difference between a fact and wisdom?  Here’s a fact:

Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. I John 2:15

It is a fact that loving the world means you can’t love God.  Applying this fact requires wisdom:

I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators: Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world.  I Corinthians 5:9-10

We are in this world; we use many things the world offers.  We buy cars, food, books, clothes, and much more.  We must apply wisdom when we decide what to use and what to avoid.  How do we get wisdom?

If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.  James 1:5

Asking God means praying about the decision, reading the Bible, and being ready to obey when God answers.  My wife was expecting to marry her college boyfriend.  She was surprised when she asked God if she should marry him and God said, “No.”  It was hard, but she obeyed God and walked away from him.

Christians study the Bible to learn the mind of God and to give the Holy Spirit something to work with.  There are many ways to study the Bible and many study guides with different approaches.  When you’re trying to make a decision, you want to be sure to follow God’s guidance:

Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.  Proverbs 3:5-6

Here’s a way to apply the Bible to decisions to help you stay in the will of God.  Ask yourself these questions about an action you’re about to take:

1. Is it right in the eyes of God?  Is it something God tells me to seek, believe, do, or not do?  1 John 5:17 All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death.  Ps. 119:11  Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.  We must study God’s word enough to hide it in our hearts to avoid sin.  Fortunately, God grades on the curve:  Luke 12:47-48a  And that servant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes.  It would be best to follow God’s will enough to hear, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant…”

2. Will doing this bring me near or into temptation?  Rom. 13:14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.  Mt. 6:13a And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.  God promises to supply all our needs, but we can easily confuse wants and needs.  Apple has introduced a $1,000 smart phone.  Does anyone really need it?  Or is Apple tempting people to brag about their wealth by flashing this shiny new thing?

3. Would this action give room for the devil to work against me?  Eph. 4:27 Neither give place to the devil.  Will doing this give others a reason to doubt my testimony?  Will it be an excuse for them to ignore what I say about the Bible or about the promises of God?  Most lost people know what God expects of Christians.

4. Is there any principle in scripture against it?  Isa. 8:20 To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.  It can be hard to verify articles which claim to reveal facts about human nature, for example, but the Bible says a lot about the sins of the flesh.  If research is supported by scripture, it may be worth considering, but if research conflicts with scripture, forget it!

5. Am I trusting God or depending in my own strength?  Prov. 3:5-6 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.  Pr. 14:12 There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

6. Am I confident that God would have me to do this, or is it doubtful?  Rom. 14:23 And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.  Rom. 14:5b  Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.

7. Will my doing this cause someone to stumble?  Rom. 14:21 It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.

8. Would this action appear evil to anyone or will it make others glorify God?  1 Thess. 5:22 Abstain from all appearance of evil.  Romans 12:17b Provide things honest in the sight of all men.  Mt. 5:16  Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

9. Would the Lord Jesus Christ do this?  1 Pet. 2:21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:  Rom. 8:29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.  Eph. 2:10  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.  Is this a “good work?”

10. Will my doing this please God?  John 8:29 And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.

11. Am I trying to impress others with my spirituality?  Pro. 16:18  Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.

But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, ²And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles' feet. ³But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? ⁴Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God. ⁵And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things. ⁶And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him. ⁷And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in. ⁸And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much. ⁹Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out. ¹⁰Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband. ¹¹And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things.  Acts 5:1-11

12. Do I hope somebody notices me?  Gal. 5:26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.  John 12:43 For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.

13. Does my doing this edify?  1 Cor. 14:26 How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, bath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.  Heb. 10:24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:

14. Am I being selfish?  Phil. 2:3-4 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. ⁴Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.

15. Am I denying the flesh or feeding the flesh?  Luke 14:26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.  Luke 9:23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.

16. Am I putting Christ first?  Col. 1:18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.  Matthew 6:33  But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

17. Is it expedient, that is, a right thing to do that will edify?  1 Cor. 10:23 All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.

18. Will it bring glory to God?  1 Cor. 10:31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.  Mt. 6:33  But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

19. Am I deceiving myself or being deceived?  1 Cor. 3:18 Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.

20. Do I know better?  1 Cor. 8:10 For if any man see thee which hast knowledge sit at meat in the idol's temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols.  James 4:17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.

21. Am I searching for an excuse to justify what I want to do?  Luke 16:15 And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.

22. Do I have to hide it from anyone?  Do I feel like sneaking around?  2 Cor. 4:2 But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.

23. Did I handle the word of God deceitfully?  2 Cor. 4:2 But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God

24 Will this in any way defile God's body?  1 Cor. 3:17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy: for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.  1Cor. 6:19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

25. Can I sincerely thank God for it?  1 Thess. 5:l In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

26. Can I do this in Jesus' name?  Col. 3:17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

27. Can I go all the way with it?  Col. 3:23 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Eccl. 9:10 Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.  Luke 9:62 And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.

28. Have I prayed openly, fervently, and honestly about it?  Ps. 66:18 If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me: Phil. 4:6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

29. Will it increase or hinder my prayer life?  1 Pet. 3:7 Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honor unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.

30. Am I breaking one commandment in order to keep another?  Jer. 48:10 Cursed be he that doeth 'the work of the LORD deceitfully, and cursed be he that keepeth back his sword from blood.

31. What does my pastor think about it?  Hebr. 13:7 Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.  Heb. 13:17 Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief for that is unprofitable for you.

32. What does my spouse think?  Mark 10:8  And they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh.  Acts 5:1-11 tells how Ananias had an idea, he discussed it with his wife, and she agreed to lie.  She should have warned her husband that this wasn’t a good idea.  We know she knew better - she was “beaten with many stripes” for following her husband where she shouldn’t have gone (Luke 12:47-48a).

33. What do my church brethren think about it?  Prov. 11:14 Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counselors there is safety.  Prov. 15:22 Without counsel purposes are disappointed: but in the multitude of counselors they are established.

34. Would I like to be found doing this when Jesus Christ returns?  1 John 2:28 And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.  1 John 3:1 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.

35. How will it appear at the Judgment Seat of Christ?  Will it abide or will it burn?  Rom. 14:10-12 But why dost thou judge thy brother? Or why dost thou set at naught thy brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.

For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. ¹²Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; ¹³Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. ¹⁴If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. ¹⁵If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.  I Corinthians 3:11-15