We’re continuing to look at what it means to know God’s will. In part one, we established that God’s will is knowable and not specific to each individual. We also began looking at some questions we can ask when facing a decision and seeking God’s will in it. The first two questions are, “Will this violate God’s Law?” and “Will this draw me closer to God or hinder my walk with Him?”
Of course, most of us won’t stop and take the time to ask those questions when facing a decision. We’d rather spend hours wringing our hands wondering what we should do. We’re putting all the emphasis on us rather than on God’s Word. Only God’s Word has the answers, so wasting time anywhere else is foolish (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
The next question we can ask to know God’s will is, “Will this set a Christlike example for others?” Sometimes our choices will pass questions one and two, but could cause a weaker brother or sister to stumble. Perhaps choosing something would hurt someone else we love. As Paul explains, walking in God’s will means making every effort to avoid offense and promote unity in the body of believers (Romans 14:19-21; 1 Corinthians 8:9-13). Our relationship with the Church is the most important one we have because it is the one that will extend into eternity. Look for potential collateral damage before deciding on a course of action.
Our next question has some overlap with question number two (“Will this draw me closer to God or hinder my walk with Him?”) The question is, “Will it honor God and build me up?” What sort of habits will it generate in my life? Will those habits make me more or less like Christ? Paul teaches us to discipline our bodies so we can better represent the Lord (1 Corinthians 9:27). Everything is permissible for us as believers, but not everything is profitable or builds us up (1 Corinthians 10:23). Avoid those things that create unwanted habits and don’t build your spiritual discipline or growth (Philippians 4:8-9).
Another critical question to ask is, “Will this slow down my pursuit of Christ?” Paul compares the Christian life to a race, one we run until we meet Jesus at the finish line (Philippians 3:12-14; 2 Timothy 4:7). If we’re going to run at top speed, we can’t carry a lot of extra weight with us. Every responsibility and relationship we have adds weight. Every extra-biblical teaching we burden ourselves with will make each step heavier. Since we know the quickest way to get from here to there is a straight line, it is vital that we avoid taking a lot of detours. Anything that wastes time or drains your energy is a detour.
Do not misunderstand me to be saying we should avoid relationships or any sort of recreation. But recognize those things divert us from our goal of living for the Kingdom. Some relationships will help us along the way, and some diversions will provide refreshment for our souls. But if we choose too many or the wrong ones, they will take us off the narrow path we seek to travel (Matthew 7:13-14). God’s will is that we redeem the time, not waste it (Ephesians 5:15-17). Ponder these questions as you face decisions today, and we’ll look at some additional ways you can know God’s will next time.