God’s
word makes it clear that He views success quite differently than we do. We set
a goal, plan a strategy, and carry out the plan. If it works, we claim success.
Someone asks, “What is the problem with this?” Simply put, God’s will has been
left out of the equation! During
King Asa’s reign over Judah, King Baasha of Israel invaded. Asa paid the
Syrians to attack Israel’s homeland, forcing Baasha to go back home to defend
his own land. Asa then re-captured the territory Baasha had taken (see 1 Kings
15:16-21). Pretty
good strategy, wouldn’t you say? And it definitely worked! God, however, sent
His prophet, Hanani, to rebuke Asa (2 Chronicles 16:7-9). The king had put his
trust in his pagan neighbors rather than in the Lord. Yes, it “worked,” but it
dishonored God. Moses
also “succeeded” in a task, but sinned in the process. God told him to provide
water for Israel by speaking to a rock (Numbers 20:8). Instead of obeying,
Moses, being furious with his people, gave the rock a double-whack with his rod
(20:9-11). Water miraculously gushed forth in great abundance. It worked! But
Moses and Aaron forfeited the blessing of going across Jordan into the promised
land (20:12). Worldly
philosophy says that the end justifies the means. Since Asa gained relief from
his enemies, his method doesn’t matter. Since Moses acquired water for his
people, it makes no difference how he did it. The Bible, on the other hand,
teaches that people offend God by reaching the right goals using the wrong
means. Church
growth, for example, is an eminently Scriptural goal. God wants His church to
grow; if you don’t want the church to grow, you need to repent! And God’s
church will grow when Christians are serving as they ought. Some, however, in
misguided zeal, seek to produce church growth by using methods that are outside
of God’s will. Watering down the gospel, exchanging worship for entertainment,
and otherwise appealing to people’s carnal side, might attract large crowds;
but it doesn’t glorify God! |
- Joe Slater serves as
minister of the Church of Christ in Justin, TX. He may be contacted through the
congregation's website: http://justinchurchofchrist.com |
Tuesday, February 21, 2023
It Works!
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