Nov 28 — My Way or God’s Way?
A friend came by my house the other day. She’s a lovely person; she goes to church, pays her tithes, and is eager to help the less fortunate. In the eyes of the world, she’s a role model citizen. During our discussion, one thing popped into my mind and heart: Has she made God her King, or does she live doing things just as she sees fit?
This Sunday’s sermon beautifully illustrated this point. It’s too bad she was not attending the church to hear it firsthand. The sermon told a tale of David. During his early years, before being made king of Israel, young David was pursued by King Saul who wanted to kill him. So, it was obvious to all the people to think that these two were enemies.
One day, a young man came to David and claimed that he had killed King Saul, bringing his crown & bracelet as proof of the deed. He hoped that David would shower him with gifts and glory for eliminating King Saul, his enemy who had been pursuing David with the intention to kill him. The young man didn’t understand that, in David’s eyes, King Saul was the one who was anointed by God. Even though David had two opportunities to kill King Saul, he did not dare to do it, out of respect for God, who had once anointed King Saul. Imagine how confused the young man was when David ordered his soldiers to kill him. This happened because he acted on what he thought was right, not knowing David’s thoughts.
Who else made this same mistake? Two captains named Rechab and Baanah. These two killed King Saul’s son and reported their deeds to David, expecting bountiful praise and wealth. What do you know? Apparently, David had once made a promise to protect King Saul’s descendants. The two captains, who were not aware of David’s promise, met their demise by execution. Once again, tragedy happened because someone acted on what they thought was right, oblivious to the fact that what they did actually made matters worse.
Some people think if we spend a lot of time with someone, then automatically we know them, but that’s not true. We need to always be careful not to make this mistake. Apparently, David’s chief priest and military leader both made this mistake, even though they had been with David for 50–60 years. Abiathar and Joab, two of David’s close team, made an error in judgment when they both supported Adonijah (one of David’s sons) to be king, while David wanted Solomon to be made king. In the end, Abiathar was removed from his esteemed position, and Joab was killed. How tragic it is, thinking that you are doing good, but realizing in the end that it goes against your King’s wishes.
Lastly, who else makes this terrible mistake? Sadly, also the people of God can make this mistake. Matthew 7:22–23 says: “Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’” My friends, this is a true tragedy, imagining that at the end of our lives, standing in front of the gate of heaven, expecting to be welcomed by God, but we are rejected and sent to Hell instead. Why? It’s because, like all those people mentioned above, we fail to understand what our God wants from us. We fail to walk in His way, but instead, we live thinking that our way of life and thinking is the correct one.
Isaiah 55:8–9 says: “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” Friends, don’t you think we exalt ourselves too much when we say that we know our God, but on a daily basis, we don’t have a close relationship with Him. We think we are doing good deeds, but what we are actually doing are things that we THINK are right, and that may not be what God wants from us. Through this short letter, I pray and humbly remind all of us, including myself, to never be wise in our own eyes, but instead, have a close relationship with God by reading His words, talking to Him through prayer, and most importantly, understanding that He is our King and we need to fully submit to Him. Thy will be done, Lord!
