“…whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” 1 Corinthians 10:31
The question of how to make decisions – what to do about a given situation – remains difficult among Christians who desire to live in the will of God, for discerning the will of God is not always easy.
While we have the assurance of the role of the Holy Spirit in our lives to provide guidance, we sometimes balk at the idea of making a decision which may or may not be in the will of God, especially, in relation to our reactions and responses to situations with which we are confronted.
I was in a quandary last week when I found myself in a situation in which my will to deny assistance to a person who needed it was justifiable because of the circumstances, but a little off, when it came to Christian character. I confess that I had no desire to extend grace, and I believed I had good reason not to, but I struggled. My struggle led me to seek counsel from my Christian confidantes, who wisely pointed me to the Lord for guidance. Before we finished praying, today’s foundational scripture jumped into my mind, and would not leave.
With the scripture gently prodding me to examine my feelings, motives and response, I submitted to the truth of it: which is that as a Christian, whatever I do must be to the glory of God. Therefore, although everything in me recoiled from extending grace, I realised it was because my focus was on my feelings, the actions of the person who needed my help, the situation which had created the bitterness that grounded my feelings – relevant and important things – but not on Christ. That was why I was struggling to do what I knew to be right: to extend that hand of help.
It was a matter of focus.
Romans 12:1 demands that as a child of God, I live my daily life as a living sacrifice to discern the will of God. While this does not mean that I should not exercise my reason or freewill in matters relating to, or connected with me, it does require that my actions (and responses), be aligned with the character and purposes of God. This is in line with the goal of my salvation, which is to be progressively conformed to the image of Jesus Christ (Romans 8:29).
This alignment should mean that in everything I do or allow, I must make an intentional choice, my measuring stick being whether or not Jesus will be honoured thereby, and that God will be glorified through it, regardless of the culture of the place or the time in which I operate.
To so align, the baseline is for me to recognise that it is God Himself who would make me want to desire to live, and have the power to act, in ways that please Him (Philippians 2:13). Having regard to what Jesus said plainly in John 15:5 regarding the attainment of a fruitful Christian life: that it was impossible to so live without Him, it stands to reason that in everything I do or allow, I must intentionally choose to listen to, and cooperate with, and rely on the Holy Spirit who is given to all believers as our Helper (John 14:26). This may require me to surrender my will to Him in a given circumstance, for He is the One equipped to help me to do right, choose right, live right.
How does this alignment work out practically in my daily living?
In My Work
I am learning that in my work, I must appreciate that the ability to earn a living is provided by God who gives me the opportunity, the health and the capacity to do that job.
The appreciation of this privilege is why I must please Him in how I perform the duties entrusted to me, regardless of whether I have a good or bad superior, or whether the conditions at work are cozy or difficult.
A proper focus will have the practical effect of reducing complaints about real problems at work, which may include menial tasks, disrespectful superiors, unkind colleagues, or unfair expectations.
Colossians 3:23 counsels that: “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord.” Having regard to this, I can justifiably confide my unhappiness in my work situation to God who has the power to bring about change, rather than for me to do poor work – the ‘quiet quitting’. This is because, as is observed in the next verse, however I am placed to earn a living, “… It is the Lord Christ [I am] serving” (Colossians 3:24). It is to Him I give an account, and it is to Him I look for commendation, and my reward. Therefore, I must be focused on how duties in my daily life may be carried out as acts of service.
In My Relationships
Colossians 3:17: “whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus…” has become an imperative for me.
As the measure of my actions is for God to be honoured through what I do, permit, or applaud, I am constrained by a proper focus to ensure that I give grace to others (especially to persons I consider to be undeserving); that I show mercy, recognising that I am also the recipient of God’s grace and mercy, and that in my responses, I both show compassion for human failings even when I am impacted by them, and learn to be patient with others as well as with myself.
In My Decisions
A decision not made with a focus on bringing honour to God, may be the exercise of my own unfettered will, but I may miss God’s best, or worse, the decision may carry consequences for which I may be unprepared.
Proverbs 3:6 gives this guidance and assurance: that God will provide proper guidance in your decision-making if you entrust it to Him:“…in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”
Practically, I must be honest in how much I want God in my business, so that if I indeed intend that my decisions should bring God honour, and not be grounded solely on my own will and desires, I must entrust my decision-making to Him and trust Him to lead me right.
1 Samuel 30 contains a remarkable story which is a lesson in submission to God’s will in decision making. It recounts how David who had returned with his six hundred warriors from their military campaigns came to find their camp at Ziklag sacked, and their wives and children taken away by an enemy – Amalekites. It is extraordinary, that rather than doing what any valiant warrior would do by instinct, which was to immediately run after the enemy, David went to the Lord to ask whether he should pursue the enemy. In the face of his own anguish from the loss of his family, and the anger of his men who had turned against him, David’s actions showed his trust in God’s total care for Him. This is what enabled him to trust that God would not lead him to his hurt.
No wonder he could say in Psalm 23:3: “He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake”!
In My Conduct
As Galatians 5:1 observes, “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.” However, even in the exercise of that freedom, I must remember that the only audience that should matter is God who has given me freedom to live my life free from the bondage that this world piles on me.
I must acknowledge that just as much as God loves me, He loves others too (indeed, Jesus calls them my neighbour).
Therefore, in living my life in the freedom Christ has purchased for me, I must give heed to what is contained in 1 Peter 4:11 “If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ”.
So, this must be my focus, if, as a child of God, I truly seek to know God’s will in any matter, or how to act in any situation:
To align my will to His, in order that my actions will bring Him honour, and praise.
That is the sobering truth!
