it is very easy to become overwhelmed and discouraged. This discouragement has led to questioning
our purpose and influence here: Why am I
here? What should I be doing? Can I really make a difference? Am I actually making things better?
a common thread of thoughts and challenges that God puts on me. This month, the theme is obedience. More specifically, doing the things God has
asked of me regardless of whether or not I see visible rewards or results. I go out and see families of people who were
born on a pile of trash under an overpass, who will live their entire lives
there, who will probably die there, and whose kids will live the same way. I see so much injustice and inequality and
suffering and wonder if I am really doing anything at all. In the grand scheme of things, what can I
really do? Sure, I can feed a child and
keep her alive for at least one more day.
I can play with an orphan and bring him joy for a few hours. And while these are great acts and they are
important, they are only temporary solutions to a chronic problem. I am only treating the symptoms.
So why be obedient?
Why is it important for me, for all of us, to obey God when ultimately
He is the only one able to truly bring change?
He doesn’t need my help, so maybe I should just stay out of the way…
I think maybe it is first important to dispel some of the
misconceptions or confusions people have about the answer to the question of
obedience.
Some believe that God asks us for things because needs us to do things for him. That is our pride. God is not reliant on us. He is working in ways we will never
understand and is ultimately in control – whether we understand or agree or
participate or not.
Some believe that the importance of obedience is so that God will love us
more. False. God’s love for us is not influenced by our
actions. God is love. God is constant and eternal. Therefore, God’s love for us is also constant
and eternal. It is a characteristic not
an emotion. It is not something that is
given and taken away. It is not
earned. God is love.
Others think (and religions teach) that obedience is important because it is
our way of earning our salvation or working our way to heaven. That is impossible. We cannot do enough things to make ourselves perfect
or even acceptable to God. “For by grace you
have been saved through faith. And this
is not of your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that
no one may boast.” (Ephesians 2:8,9)
with God’s abilities/needs, or His love for us, or our salvation, then why is
it important? If God has already
forgiven us for our disobedience, why does He make such a big deal about our
obedience? More specifically, why does
he ask us to be charitable? Why should
we love each other? Why obey God?
God asks for our obedience not because he needs our love, but because he
knows how badly we need his.
The only reason we are obedient to anyone is out of honor and respect
that ultimately stems from love. The
same is true for God. In asking us to be
obedient, really he is asking us to love him enough to honor and obey his
request, regardless of what it is. The
importance lies in the person making the request, or in this case, God – not in
the request itself, or even the outcome.
When we are obedient, we are simply telling God that we love him enough
to do what he asks – we are reflecting the love of God back onto him – or worshipping
him.
This is the very point I believe Jesus was trying to make
when he spoke about obedient action in service to others as recorded in Matthew
25:
blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for
you from the foundation of the world. 35For I was hungry
and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I
was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you clothed
me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in
prison and you came to me.’ 37Then the righteous will answer him,
saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you
drink? 38And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or
naked and clothe you? 39And when did we see you sick or in prison
and visit you?’ 40And the King will answer them, ‘Truly,
I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my
brothers, you did it to me.”
Matthew 25: 34-40
or give shoes to a homeless boy living on the street, or play basketball with
men in prison, I am literally doing this to Jesus – because in my obedience,
Jesus is glorified. His love is
reflected back onto himself in my choice to be obedient. The charity that comes from that obedience
and shows his love to those people is just a side effect of my act of
worship. The other side effect of
worship is that it is how God removes the barriers we put between ourselves and
him – the things that keep us from experiencing his love. In worship through obedience, God brings us
closer to his love. God asks us to be
obedient not because he needs our love, but because he knows how badly we need
his.
will work through me. Whether we feel we
are making an impact or not, “Whatever
you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the
Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.” Colossians 3:23,24
