February 14, 2008
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The cost of disobedience
This morning I took a step back as I reviewed the Books of Kings. I was struck by the reminder that when we fear people more than we fear God, it truly becomes a snare for ourselves and for others. This is exactly what Solomon said in Proverbs 29:25. Jeroboam (king of Israel) should’ve read the proverb of his predecessor. If he had not feared losing his popularity, if he had not feared losing the favor and allegiance of his people, if he had chosen to trust God rather than being a people-pleaser, then all that idolatry would’ve been avoided. (No golden calves in Israel.) People-pleasing leads to idolatry. Idolatry leads to downfall.
Oswald Chambers writes, “If we obey God, it is going to cost other people more than it costs us, and that is where the sting comes in. If we are in love with our Lord, obedience does not cost us anything, it is a delight; but it costs those who do not love Him a good deal. If we obey God, it will mean that other people’s plans are upset, and they will gibe us with it, “You call this Christianity?” We can prevent the suffering; but if we are going to obey God, we must not prevent it, we must let the cost be paid. … Are we going to remain loyal in our obedience to God…or take the other line and say–I will not cost other people suffering? We can disobey God if we choose, and it will bring immediate relief to the situation, but we shall be a grief to our Lord. Whereas if we obey God, He will look after those who have been pressed into the consequences of our obedience. We have simply to obey and to leave all consequences with Him.”
When it comes down to it, the question is, Who do I fear more? –The Lord or people? Whose opinions dictate my choices and decisions? The Lord or people? When my obedience costs others, my natural inclination is to relieve them of their suffering — and yet, the real question I must ask is what will that disobedience (that temporary relief) cost them and me in the end? It’s just not worth it.
Comments (9)
thanks for this entry, spoke to me
hmm, that’s interesting.. maybe i don’t have enough friends, but i can’t really think of situations where my obedience would inconvenience or hurt others.. or maybe it’s because my friends know i can’t be counted on to “follow along.” though that “not enough friends” theory might have a lot of validity to it too..
So interesting that you wrote this, because I was just reading the missionary story “In Search of the Source” today. I was at the part where they were wrestling with the bible verse where it says “Anyone who does not hate his mother/father/sister/brother cannot be my follower.” I’ve never fully understood what that meant, and today I finally saw that it can make sense in this context you describe. Our obedience as Christ-followers will occasionally inconvenience or upset others, especially those closest to us (if they aren’t believers).
but what if they ARE believers?
hmm thats so true… its easy to care what others think…
totally what came to me when i was reading i and ii kings too!!! the Lord vs the people (or “teh way of fathers”).
leaving consequences (esp unseen in teh present) in god’s hands is SO the hard part of this. i feel like we should record how we step out in faith and record how God answers just as he promises… so we can testify to the truth of God’s word based on our obedience over time.
hey i miss you!
@ggong -
maybe you haven’t had to do anything in which your friends felt was so contrary. but what about your family? most of the times it’s our friends who are pretty agreeable to what we do but our family who may not be on the same page with us.
@kimlyuen -
hehe…i definitely think our obedience to Christ can upset believers too. it’s pretty crushing when they don’t see what we see… but we can pray.
@searchingfortreasures -
Ah, guess I had lots of conflicts with parents when I was younger.. Well, and even somewhat recently. I’ve kind of given up on trying to please them anyways though – because it’s pretty much impossible.
But you’re right, I can definitely see how that is more of an issue.. Though often for me God’s whisperings are to care _more_ for what my parents think and want, not to heed them less (as perhaps I’m already too far in ignoring them)..