Recently a person related how God had told them to give their home to someone. They did it. They handed over the home and walked away because “God told us to do it.”
Was that incredible faith? It could be. Often we hear fellow believers say, “I was praying and God told me…”
There are times I cringe when I hear people say with such confidence that they have heard from God. It’s not that I don’t believe God directs us in ways that are unmistakably from Him. It’s just that it’s so easy to mistake our will for His. Or mistake a prompting or thought as divine direction.
This came to mind while reading Jeremiah 23 this morning. Verses 35-38 have some helpful direction for us:
“Instead of claiming to know what God says, ask questions of one another, such as ‘How do we understand God in this?’ But don’t go around pretending to know it all, saying ‘God told me this…God told me that….’ I don’t want to hear it anymore. Only the person I authorize speaks for me. Otherwise, my Message gets twisted, the Message of the living God-of-the-Angel-Armies. You can ask the prophets, ‘How did God answer you? What did he tell you?’ But don’t pretend that you know all the answers yourselves and talk like you know it all. I’m telling you: Quit the ‘God told me this…God told me that…’ kind of talk.” (from The Message).
So, how do we know if what we sense is from God or just our own agenda? The Biblical worldview holds the key: we go back to the Word. Warren Wiersbe’s advice in Be Decisive: “Whatever anyone says who claims to be speaking for the Lord must be tested by the Word of God.”
Wiersbe commends Isaiah 8:20: “To the Law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.”
As followers of Christ we have been given the Bible to be a lamp to our feet and a light for our path (Psalm 119:105). We have been given the Holy Spirit to guide us into truth (John 16:13). We have been instructed to pray when we need wisdom, to a God who generously helps us (James 1:5). And we have been surrounded by parents, friends, pastors, and others who can give us godly advice (Proverbs 12:15, Proverbs 15:22).
It’s completely possible that what God really wants for us is contrary to what we want. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.” (Proverbs 3:5-6). God give me the faith to be obedient when your will is not mine….
A biblical worldview says we’re going to stake our lives on what the Bible says. We’ll use the wisdom and gifts and abilities God has given us, but when our own wisdom conflicts with the Word, we’re on dangerous ground. When we think we have God inspired insight that conflicts with godly counselors around us, be careful.
Let’s be wary of using “God told me” kind of talk today. Instead, let’s dig into His Word. And when His Word directs us in a way that we’d prefer not to go, let’s move forward on faith that our loving God knows best.
