In our series exploring the big questions of life, we looked further at the question of how God works in our world. It’s not enough to just know what God does or even why; we must be people who work in the same ways, never subscribing to the world’s idea that ‘the end justifies the means.’ God cares about how we do things as well as about what we do; He cares about motives as well as actions. Prov 16:2 says, ‘All a person’s ways seem pure to them, but motives are weighed by the Lord.’ Our motives determine what we do, who we are, and who we will become, and it’s necessary to have motives aligned with actions, understanding that God sees below the surface and beyond the superficial. (1 Sam 16:7)
Ultimately, we looked at 3 ways God works and contrasted these with how the world works:
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God works through humility and servanthood
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God works through foolishness
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God works through faith
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The world works through arrogance and pride
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The world works through wisdom and knowledge
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The world works through achievement and effort
Humility and servanthood are the path to greatness in the kingdom of God (see Matt 20:20-28, John 13:15-17). Humility comes before honour (Prov 15:33) and Jesus showed us that the Pharisee, with his arrogance and pride, did not receive justification from God, but that the tax collector, humble before God in asking for mercy, did. (Luke 18:9-14)
The foolishness of God and His world of paradox can’t be understood with natural eyes, but demonstrates God’s modus operandi. (1 Cor 1:18-25) Who would choose a couple well into old age and barren to be the start of your dynasty? Yet God chose Abraham and Sarah. Who would think of marching around a city and then blowing trumpets as a way of seeing walls tumble? Yet that was the way God led Joshua to defeat Jericho. Who would think a teenage boy could defeat a giant experienced in warfare? Yet God used David and his sling and five stones to bring down Goliath. Who would think people could withstand a fiery furnace? Yet God protected Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego when they were thrown into that furnace. If ever we need to understand how God works, we can look at the cross. This is the way God chose to save us!
One of the hardest things for us to grasp in the Christian journey is the ongoing need for faith and trust in God. We are conditioned to believe that hard work, effort and achievement are the way to get on in life, but God is more interested in faith. Paul expounds on this key ingredient in Abraham’s life in Romans 4, and Jesus often spoke well of people who demonstrated faith. To the centurion who came to Him to ask for healing for his servant, Jesus said, ‘Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith.’ (Matt 8:10) To the woman who reached out to touch the hem of his cloak for healing, He said, ‘Let it be done just as you believed it would.’ (Matt 8:13) To the ones who brought their friend to Jesus via a roof, we are told, ‘When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the man, “Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.”’ (Matt 9:2) Jesus praises faith; He commends Mary for her devotion to Him rather than Martha’s strivings and bustlings: ‘”Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”’ (Luke 10:41-42) Interestingly, Jesus often called his disciples ‘you of little faith’ (Matt 6:30, Matt 8:26, Matt 14:31); in Greek, simply ‘little faiths.’ It’s faith which defines God’s people, not effort or achievement.
