OUR biblical history informs us that our forefathers paved the way of our understanding our obedience to God.
Our obedience to God is vital as it provides for us spiritual development and advancement, progression and continuity in God. But down through time it seems as though our understanding of the kind of obedience that God requires from us has not been clearly defined.
Abraham, our father of faith showed us that his faith in God gave strength to his obedience to God. However when God instituted the law through Moses, faith was not required for their obedience. For example, to obey the laws governing this land – be it on our roads, or our finances or our morality – faith is not required. We simply follow the instruction or the code of rule.
There are a few reasons for which we find ourselves wanting to be obedient to God. Firstly, it could be an obedience that is motivated by fear – a fear that something bad will happen to us or our family if we do not obey God.
This is unhealthy for any relationship. Like someone said, if people fear you long enough, they will eventually hate you and this is certainly not what God wants for His people.
Secondly, our obedience could be for selfish motives or desires or for gain. If I do what God says, then I can get what I want. Both these positions are erroneous, ungodly and fruitless.
Fortunately for us, the Word of God provides direction and counsel and also gives us examples of some who didn’t get it quite right.
The elder brother, in the parable of the prodigal son, be it for his lack of understanding divine protocol or ignorance led him to believe that he could serve for his inheritance through his obedience – missed it. “All these years I have served you, I never transgressed your commandment at any time, and yet you never gave me …” Luke 15.
While the rich young ruler convinced himself that he could trade his obedience for eternal life. “All these things I have kept from my youth …” Mark 10:20.
No doubt, these are two remarkable young men to have obeyed to this degree. But sadly for them, in their pursuit to get what they wanted, their obedience only produced frustration and disappointment and as for the elder brother, he became disrespectful and dishonoured his father.
But Jesus, Who is not only a wise Son, but wisdom personified, continually reminded His disciples that He does not seek His own will but the Father’s. John 5.
His obedience, which is the highest form of obedience, was motivated by love and not just the love that He had for His Father but I believe more so the complete confidence that He had in His Father’s love for Him.
The motivation for our obedience to God is important to our spiritual well being and when we do get it right; it will surely be rewarding and satisfying. I sincerely believe that God is looking for wise sons – sons who possess His wisdom.
Because it is this wisdom that will produce the obedience that He desires that will bring completion and fulfilment to His work and to His Word.
