How many times do we justify our actions to accomplish an end result? I believe most people practice this tactic when getting things done. Conflict comes when they convince themselves that two wrongs make a right. If something seems wrong, yet a person continues down that path of “head-in-the-sand” thinking, God calls it sin.
The notion of winking at sin to justify a positive, end result is a trick of the devil. He wants to deceive us into believing a lie. Though the final results of our actions appear to be in keeping with what is right, they can be a deception from Satan. It depends upon how the outcome was achieved.
Ask yourself these questions when trying to find direction. Was everything done above board on my journey to the end result? Were the decisions made according to the Bible; in openness before God? Did I have His complete approval or did I manipulate certain gray areas of compromise, believing or hoping that God would bless the end result, because I thought it was producing something good?
Some Christians are prone to do just that...make decisions and then attempt to pull God into their way of thinking, because of the positive end results their efforts might bring. This method of doing things is not of God. It goes contrary to who God is. God does not manipulate the ‘system’ on one side called ‘right’, and then jump over the line to the other side called ‘wrong’ and say, “All is well.”
How can anyone expect complete and positive results when they bend the statutes of God’s Word to meet their own agenda by jumping back and forth? God does not allow Himself to be pushed into a corner or placed in a box of man’s making. If it is not 100% pure, it’s not of God, regardless of the outcome.
The conclusion may be sweet and exciting to a point, but the perfect plan of God will not be seen if we fail to abide by God’s principles in the Bible. We forfeit the full blessings of God’s generosity if we justify our actions, while hoping for a good outcome.
Is God the author of confusion? No. Does He bring or create stress? No. Does He tell us to put away good sense and good judgment? No. Does one decision, not well thought out, produce other decisions and situations that need to be explained away? Yes. Do people then expect God to make things right? Yes.
A scripture in the Bible tells us to consider the cost of building a structure prior to building it. (Luke 14: 28, 29), “For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it--” v.29 “lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him,” v.30 “saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’ ”
There is safety in council. (Proverbs 11:14), “Where there is no counsel, the people fall; but in the multitude of counselors there is safety.”
If we close our hearing to Godly council for fear that a person offering council will hurt our faith, because we think we know God’s will, and hope we’ve heard His voice, be careful. If it is of God, righteous council will confirm God’s will, not dash it on the rocks of doubt.
Through every trial and test of life, we will learn something from God. He will reveal areas of self-will vs. His perfect will, but at what expense? How far down the road of hard knocks must a person travel before they pull over and say, “Forgive me, Lord. What is YOUR plan for my life?”
There is nothing wrong with facing reality when things are looking bleak and not going as we had expected. It’s important to see if we are headed in the right direction. It’s wrong when we continue down the path leading no-where, because of pride, which can be disguised in the skin of supposed faith. It’s a thin line between faith and self-will. It’s hard to distinguish one from the other, especially when we want our will, yet desire God’s will.
A statement to remember is this, “Ends don’t justify the means.” Sometimes a person wants something so badly that they confuse their desires with God’s purpose and will; becoming indignant with God when things fail to materialize as they thought should happen. Arrogance causes people to question God as to why He hasn’t performed as He ought.
Perhaps, just maybe, it’s us. We need to go back to the drawing board, as it were, and evaluate purpose and plan. It might surprise us what we find if we truly want to know why things are falling apart. There is faith and then there’s the lack of good judgment that is hidden from view, because of ulterior motives that are not considered relevant or important.
Does God ask us to compromise our faith by crawling out on the limb of compromise? Never! If something seems too good to be true, it probably is. Christians should have the spirit of discernment to help them make proper decisions. What they do with it is up to them. They need to listen to that still, small voice and act accordingly. To risk peace of mind on a whim or feeling is foolish.
To walk in peace we must abide in God’s Word. (Matthew 22:21), “…And He said to them, “Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” What this means is do not short change others; pay your bills and debts; stop missing deadlines; and don’t put you and family at risk to prove a point. Bad decisions affect everyone. As an example: Quitting a job with health benefits to prove one’s faith in God’s providence is childish. I fail to see the relevance. I believe a person that does this is attempting to manipulate God to their way of thinking, even though the end result appears to be something good.
We must realize that God’s character is honesty; having integrity with pure thoughts; without guile. When individuals breech these unchanging truths, the negatives that follow are of their own making. Being out of step with God brings restless nights, acid indigestion and doubt. Our position in Christ should always be self-analyzed with respect to direction. Confusion is reason enough to abide in God’s truth. We must remind ourselves that God is peace and calmness of spirit; not confusion coupled with anxiety.
Attempting to hold God captive to our way of thinking brings reproach and dissatisfaction. Another direction should be considered if God fails to act. Perhaps He is trying to get our attention and show us a better way.
Yes, God tests our faith, but He will never expect the ends to justify the means when it goes contrary to the Bible…at any level. 100% God-approved equals 100% perfect peace, without all the excuses and pointing fingers at each other and God.
When we take our eyes off God and look to man as our source of financial gain, position or power, we lose sight of perfection. Man is imperfect, and if we allow ourselves to be caught up in other people’s visions, goals and plans, we are as guilty as they if we say nothing when we see them justifying the means to achieve an end result.
Just because another person seems to be holy and speaks as if they have obtained perfection in God; if Christians are where they should be with God, their spirit will bear witness as to whether or not that person is what they appear to be. If they are not, help should be offered to show them the error of their way. And if they persist in justifying their actions by refusing to change, I believe a Christian should turn and go their separate way. Testimonies should support Godly living, not individual manipulation of truth, to justify end results.
Right is right and wrong is wrong. If we see something that we know in our heart is not right and say nothing for fear of losing perks or status, we condone wrong doing. Even though we are not the one telling little white lies or manipulating truth to promote an end result that is favorable, God cannot and will not bless this kind of behavior.
Getting back to the basics of holiness is the only way to reclaim God’s blessings in our life. When we have done all to stand in God’s perfection we stand complete in Him and can expect miracles to come our way.
Written by,
Papa Boyd
Written by,
Papa Boyd
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