Why Is It Important to Obey God?
“You’re not my Daddy. You can’t tell me what to do.”
Remember that snarky retort as a child? I’m a rule follower for the most part, and even I don’t like to be told what to do. There is something in our wiring that resists obedience. We have a desire to do our own thing, make our own way, learn our own lessons—the hard way.
While that’s our natural bent, it’s a pretty dumb way to go through life.
Why Should We Obey God?
What’s so important about obeying? If it’s not in our nature, it begs the question of why we should obey God.
God gave us parents to protect and guide us, to offer us the option to learn from their experience and foresight. They caution against playing in the street because we might get hit by a car. They force us to apologize after an argument because they know the value of getting along with other people. They yell at us for running with scissors. What could that tell us about God's character and concern?
God Wants Obedience Because He Knows What’s Best
The same is true of God—except magnified. When He tells us to do something, it’s because He wants to protect us and guide us to what is best. He has a vantage point our parents never did. He owns tomorrow, so when God commands us to tithe and give offerings, it’s because He knows how He plans to bless our obedience.
He knows when my car is going to die, when the insurance company is going to mail me a refund for overpayment, and when I will get a raise. Therefore, we can obey with ultimate trust and confidence.
God gives us commands to help us arrive at His best for our lives.
He would never tell us to do anything that would be to our detriment. He gives us commands to help us arrive at His best for our lives, and that includes His command to give financially. In our obedience, we demonstrate our faith and love for Him.
How Can You Obey?
1. Trust
God knows what will happen next Tuesday, and He knows what I’m going to wear five years from today. God has been where He’s calling you to go; He wants you to trust Him enough to follow Him.
2. Give
When we give, we demonstrate our faith and love for God by giving back what’s already His.
“Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7).
3. Repeat
“Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans” (Proverbs 16:3).
Success is the fruit of committed action. When we obey God in the small steps of obedience, He blesses us with more than we could ever imagine! Trust God, give what’s His to begin with, and repeat.