For anyone who’s ever aspired to be a Christian conference speaker, there’s one sure-fire way to pack the room with eager listeners. Call it “How to Know the Will of God.” That’s a subject that “inquiring minds” always want to know more about.
The issue comes up often enough. If we’re young and desirous of following the Lord, we wonder what His will is regarding things like which college to attend, what to major in, who to marry, and what job to take. As we get older, we ponder God’s will regarding other issues: Should we have children – and if so, how many, and how soon should we start? What kind of house should we buy, and where? What make and model car does He want me to have? What church should I attend? Should I change careers?
The list of questions about God’s will is beyond number. As are the sermons given and books written about the topic. Maybe that’s because everyone has a perspective on how to know God’s will – or maybe because it’s a way of attracting folks to the Sunday morning service or selling books.
I’m of the opinion that the will of God isn’t as mysterious or unfathomable as we might think. Because if we consistently read and study His Word, we’ll discover that through it God reveals His will very clearly. Take the Ten Commandments, for example. If we wonder whether it’s okay to cuss someone who’s made us mad, it’s right there – “You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God” (Exodus 20:7). If we wonder, “What if I don’t use His name?”, elsewhere we find this clarification: “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen” (Ephesians 4:29).
We don’t have to agonize over what God’s will is concerning things like killing people, thievery or lying: “You shall not murder…. You shall not steal. You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor” (Exodus 20:13,15,16).
Even if people find themselves in a struggling marriage, or suddenly suspect that someone they’re not married to is their real “soulmate,” they don’t have to pray, asking, “Lord, what is Your will here?” Because He’s already told us: “You shall not commit adultery” (Exodus 20:14). This command doesn’t offer any exceptions; there’s no fine print to address extenuating circumstances.
What if your neighbor buys a new car, with all the very latest features, and you’re still driving around your 12-year-old, non-electric clunker – shouldn’t it be okay to feel somewhat envious, even jealous? God’s will on this is clear as well: “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife…or anything that belongs to your neighbor” (Exodus 20:17).
I know this seems to be oversimplifying, but in the Scriptures, God has set forth principles and truths that cast light on even the darkest dilemmas. They are woven throughout the Bible, often in the stories of His people. Again and again, we see many of them suffering the consequences of unchecked anger, deceit, greed, hatred, lust and virtually every other human vice.
Years ago, before I became a follower of Jesus, I fell victim to the easy accessibility of consumer credit. Whenever I had a down moment, I’d try to cheer myself up by buying something I wanted. Not something I needed – just something I wanted. Like a new shirt, a record album, even tropical fish. All the while, I was singing, “I owe, I owe, it’s deep in debt I go.”
Only later did I discover God had given a stern warning against this practice of willingly going into debt: “The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender” (Proverbs 22:7). Indeed, I had become servant to the lender – several, in fact – and it took years for my wife and me to extricate ourselves from my self-imposed slavery which began before we got married. We did so by following biblical principles for handling money.
I could cite many other examples, but hopefully by now you’ve gotten the point. Just as we use an owner’s manual to instruct us on how to operate a computer, appliance, car, power tool or some other helpful device, God in similar fashion has given us His Word to guide us in how to live – how to know and abide by His good and perfect will.
Sometimes discerning His will is extremely simple: “Should I buy the red dress – or the blue one?” Often His answer is, “I don’t care. You pick.” Other times the decision is much more complex, but His principles are there, readily available to point us in the right direction.
And we don’t have just the Scriptures, although they are a lot more than we often realize. God also gives us His Spirit to give us wisdom, insight and understanding. Luke 11:13 says, “If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!” And to this 1 Thessalonians 4:8 adds, “Therefore, anyone who rejects this instruction does not reject a human being but God, the very God who gives you His Holy Spirit.”
So, how can we know God’s will? It’s right there in His Word, interpreted by His Spirit, and if we are fortunate enough to have godly friends, the Lord can speak to us through them as well. It’s a matter of staying closely connected to Him. As Jesus told His disciples, “If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you” (John 15:7).
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