Have you ever done something and later questioned if it was right in the sight of God?  Have you ever said something that you thought was biblical truth just to later find out that you had too much of your own thinking in what you said?  Too many brethren can answer “yes” to these questions.  In fact, too many could answer yes to these questions on a frequent basis under many different circumstances.  We need to allow our thinking to come from God’s way instead of our own and this problem will not persist.

     David once did some thinking.  Notice where David got with his good thinking and noble intentions: “And it came to pass, when the king sat in his house, and the Lord had given him rest round about from all his enemies; That the king said unto Nathan the prophet, See now, I dwell in an house of cedar, but the ark of God dwelleth within curtains.  And Nathan said to the king, Go, do all that is in thine heart; for the Lord is with thee.  And it came to pass that night, that the word of the Lord came unto Nathan, saying, Go and tell my servant David, Thus saith the Lord, Shalt thou build me an house for me to dwell in?  Whereas I have not dwelt in any house since the time that I brought up the children of Israel out of Egypt, even to this day, but have walked in a tent and in a tabernacle.  In all the places wherein I have walked with all the children of Israel spake I a word with any of the tribes of Israel, whom I commanded to feed my people Israel, saying, Why build ye not me an house of cedar” (II Samuel 7:1-7)?

     Like David, many have done or said things with the best of intentions that simply did not have God’s approval.  We must do all things by the authority of the Lord (Colossians 3:17).  We must think before we act or speak.  If I am going to do something I better check first with my Father to get his approval.  God is our Father and it is time that we act that way (I Timothy 1:2 and II John 9).  Notice what John penned by inspiration: “And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever” (I John 2:17).  It is the will of the Father we must do, not our own if we are to live and abide forever.

     There are many people doing “religious” things that they think God approves of.  This is not the correct mindset: “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.  Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?  And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity” (Matthew 7:21-23).  If we are doing what is right we will be able to go to the Bible and show that God said what we are doing is acceptable in His sight.

     What’s right with it?  How did God authorize me to do this work or speak these words?  Ask yourself these questions knowing that you are the one accountable for being able to answer them.  We are supposed to be able to give an answer for what we do when others ask us (I Peter 3:15).  Why aren’t we asking ourselves these questions and expecting ourselves to know the answers.  Before we act, are we prepared to answer to God for what we are about to do or say?  We need to be as we will stand before Christ and be expected to give an account (Romans 14:11-12).

     If God has authorized us to do something we can know for sure that He will provide us with ample information on how to do that act as well.  For example, we know that our Lord Jesus Christ desires us to assemble with the saints, break the unleavened bread, drink of the fruit of the vine, as we assemble for this purpose on the first day of the week, in remembrance of His death (Matthew 26:17; 26-30, Acts 20:7-11, and I Corinthians 11:23-26).  We know that any other day would be without God’s approval.  We know that we are to come together for that purpose and once we have done so we have done what God desires.  We know that we cannot argue that we can use popcorn as an element of the Lord’s Supper.  We know these things by what God has authorized by statement or example and what He has excluded by His silence.  We can follow the pattern (II Timothy 1:13; cf. Exodus 25:9; 40, Joshua 22:28, and Hebrews 8:5).

     We can go to the word of God and show what is right about partaking of the Lord’s Supper in the authorized way.  We can show other things we do in worship are acceptable to God in the same way.  We should be able to do this with all things.  The word of God gives us all the information we need to serve God faithfully (II Peter 1:3).  The word of God thoroughly furnishes unto all good works (II Timothy 3:16-17).  Thus, if we cannot find what we are saying or doing within the pages of God’s word it is because that action will not help us to serve God faithfully and it is not a good work.

     Too many will not employ these simple principles.  In pride they think that their way is the right way.  They think their intentions make what they are doing alright.  Not so!   We may think something is right, but that is a dangerous standard of authority (Proverbs 14:12; 16:25 and Jeremiah 10:23).  There are a lot of preachers who stand in pulpits and write in papers today what they think is right without ever consulting God.  This has led to many of the errors practiced among brethren today.  It is a shame that some cannot biblically think before they speak / write.

     Too many pulpits are filled today by men who speak things which they know not.  They learn from commentaries or others only half of a subject and they speak it as truth.  Pulpits are used to allow men to learn.  WRONG!!!  Studying and being taught is for learning (John 5:39 and II Timothy 2:2), while preaching is for teaching (II Timothy 4:2).  We have too many blind leaders of the blind who are going to lead many into ditches (Matthew 15:14).

     If all one knows the whole truth on is baptism; that is what they should limit their teaching to.  Those who are still sucking on the milk are not fit to cut into the meat (Hebrews 5:12).  Too many congregations of God’s people today are listening to men who apply little time to learning and the result is ignorance on the part of the teacher as well as the students.   Whether intentional or not, too many who are leading today are causing others to err from the faith (Isaiah 3:12; 9:16).  We need to be teachers of what we know to be truth.  This comes by studying a whole matter before we speak on any part of that subject so that we can rightly divide the truth on that matter (II Timothy 2:15).

     Solomon wrote saying: “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.  In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.  Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil” (Proverbs 3:5-7).  We all need to take heed to those inspired words.  When we lean upon our own understanding we are sure to fail God for His ways are higher than our ways (Isaiah 55:8-9).

     As God’s children we need to have our delight in the word of the Lord and meditate upon His instructions day and night (Psalms 1:2).  This will allow us to be a people who will think about what God says on all things for our thoughts will be centered continually upon the will of the Lord.  This will prevent us from thinking, speaking, and acting in ways contrary to the will of God.  Our souls are at stake.  It’s time we start allowing God to direct our paths (Psalms 25:4-5).  Study God’s way before you speak or act!