How to Know God's Will for Your LifeSample

Do right because it is right

When I was a youngster, our church Boys’ Club had a motto: Do right because it is right. At the time, I had no idea what that meant. But as I grew older its meaning became strongly impressed upon me. You do the right thing not because you will be rewarded, but simply because it is the right thing, even if no one even knows you did it and whether you are rewarded or not.

That is exactly what the Word of God teaches. In Psalm 15, David describes the actions of people of integrity. They speak the truth (verse 2). They don’t put other people down (3). They honour those who respect God (4). They don’t take advantage of those who need their aid (5). And most significantly, they keep their word even if it hurts (4).

In other words, not only do righteous people not look for personal gain, they act justly even if it is to their personal loss! No wonder David describes them as ‘blameless’ and ‘immoveable’. Which is what we are all called to be (1 Corinthians 15:58).

And as a corollary, when we believe we are doing what God wants and something goes wrong—an accident, an interruption, a missed appointment, a reversal—we don’t immediately assume we have somehow strayed from God’s purpose.

It is easy to think that because a certain line of action is difficult, we have missed the way. Not at all. We live in a fallen world from which God has not yet rescued us. Problems and difficulties do not necessarily mean we are out of the will of God. They may actually be the reason why God wants us to do it. (Deliberately sinning is, of course, another matter. Even small sins are destructive.)

Being in the will of God and doing the will of God is sometimes hard. It’s always good but it’s not always nice. Sometimes it hurts. Sometimes it’s costly. Sometimes it’s sacrificial. Sometimes it’s life-threatening.

In fact, God calls us to this very thing. Christ suffered for us, writes Peter, leaving us an example that we should follow in his steps (1 Peter 2:21). Is it a mistake to follow in the steps of Jesus?

Paul writes that in everything God works for good with those who love him and are called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28). This is a well-loved verse and the first part is often quoted. But Paul goes on to say that for Christ’s sake, believers were being killed daily and regarded as sheep to be slaughtered (Rom 8:36). This was not metaphorical—it was really happening. For them, being in the will of God meant martyrdom. And he still calls it good.

To follow God’s will for our lives means being willing to do anything he asks just because it is the right thing to do. No other reason is necessary.

What Next?

·Recall a time when you thought you had missed God’s purpose for your life just because things didn’t work out. What have you learned from that?

·Memorise (with the reference) Psalm 15:1-2.