It is heartening to see the number of churches today that offer enriching courses to their members. The courses cover the gamut of biblical topics. At my own church it is always interesting to see which classes fill up the quickest, perhaps as a commentary on where the heart of the church is at the moment.
In a recent conversation with a pastor friend of mine, he shared that it is never a problem to fill up a class covering the topic of God’s will. I thought to myself, “This is good that so many want to know God’s will for their lives.” Doesn’t Scripture tell us we are fools if we do not know God’s will? “Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is” per Ephesians 5:17. But really, what is the reason so many people want to attend a class on God’s will, yet eschew classes on evangelism, doctrinal studies, how to study the Bible, and missions?
Maybe it’s narcissism. I rarely hear someone say things like, “I want to know God’s will for the church” or “I want to know God’s will for mankind” but rather we hear “I want to know God’s will for me.” That is good and fine, but what if God’s will for you is not a path of rosy comfort? The false perception about God’s will is that it is all about us, when it really is all about Him.
One key to discovering and readily accepting God’s will is to die to yourself. We talk about it quite a bit, but have we made the step to really die? One passage from Scripture that perhaps sheds a little light is in Hebrews 9:16-17: “In the case of a will it is necessary to prove the death of the one who made it, because a will is in force only when someone has died; it never takes effect while the one who made it is living.” My lawyer friends agree with this assessment.
God agrees with this assessment as well. Our surrender is a first step in discovering God’s will. It requires obedience, and may require some sacrifice. It will always require surrender so that our death to ourselves makes way for becoming alive to God’s will, whatever that may be. His purposes, His plans are what matters. We adjust our lives to this as we discover God’s will. It is for His glory and not our own.
Check your motives next time you want to know God’s will about a matter. Take the narcissistic self off the throne and put the Lord there in your heart and mind. We might need to stop asking questions about whether we are reformed enough in our theology, but rather whether we are transformed and conformed enough.
Walk with the King today, and be a blessing!
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