When a soldier needs to know his commanding officer’s will, he asks, “What are your orders, sergeant?” When an employee wants to know what the boss wants done next, she asks, “What do you need me to do now, sir?”
How do we find out God’s will? We go to God, of course. But that answer’s too short. Let’s look at the issue in more detail.
Before the soldier is on the battlefield asking for orders, he’s first in the classroom listening to instruction and reading field guides. It starts that way too with the Christian who wants to know God’s will – she goes to a Bible-teaching church and she studies God’s field manual, the Bible.
The Bible gives plain direction for living. It guides our thoughts, words, attitudes, and behavior. “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16). It tells us what to do and what not to do. It instructs us in God’s character and ways. Later, when we are praying for his will, we’ll get answers and we’ll be able to compare the impressions with the Bible to find out whether the voice was from God or elsewhere.
For instance, the Bible tells me, “For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God” (James 1:20). So if I am about to act in uncontrollable anger, then anything I do will be against the will of God. My first step would be to calm down and submit to God’s way of doing things. Only then will I have the calm head to figure out the right course of action. The Bible tells us in what attitude to approach in life so that we will pursue life with God’s values in mind.
We will be confused about the will of God when we habitually live for ourselves. “That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God” (1Peter 4:2). Imagine a soldier trying to work out a commander’s orders to rush the enemy – while trying to stay comfortable in the foxhole! Choosing your own way over God’s way will send you in the wrong direction. When we put our desires ahead of God’s will, we’ll miss any kind of spiritual wisdom. But when we choose to resist the world’s ways to understand our God, we will win: “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God” (Romans 12:2).
The problem comes when we try to know God’s will in specifics, like, “Does God want me to marry that person?” “Should I go to that college?” There are no specifics on which college or which woman to marry, only guidelines on moral choices and behavior to take as we consider these things. (For instance, we are to marry only those “in the Lord,” not unbelievers.) Where these things are not specifically mentioned, we have free will to choose what’s right. Adam had free choice to choose whatever he wanted to eat, just not from that one tree. The instructions were clear and full of liberty – he did not have to ask God every day what he could eat or when.
What Do You Think?
a. Since there is no shortcut to knowing God’s will, are you willing to take steps to get to know God on an ongoing basis?
b. We may not know as much about God’s will as we’d like, but he has shown us how to live in the Bible. Shouldn’t we start with his revealed will first? Why or why not?
