Have you ever noticed how many people think that they know what God wants?  Have you ever noticed how many of those
people really do not know what God desires of them?  We often hear statements such as: “I think God likes what I’m doing”
or “I don’t think God will judge me because I’m doing a good work”.  Hear what God says about our the idea of doing what
we think is best: “Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: Let the wicked forsake his
way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to
our God, for he will abundantly pardon.  For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,
saith the Lord.  For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my
thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:6-9).  Enough said?  Sadly, these very clear passages are too often not enough.

  When some folks are presented the scriptures and shown that their thoughts are not God’s thoughts they still want to argue
that God is okay with what they want to do.  Even when you ask those who do God’s thinking for Him to provide the scripture
(s) that proves they are right, they will conclude that they don’t have to prove anything or know for certain if they are right.  
Solomon put it well when he wrote: “Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the Lord pondereth the hearts”
(Proverbs 21:2).  Isaiah wrote: “Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight” (Isaiah 5:
21)!  If anyone would pay even partial attention to what God really has said they would realize that God is not pleased at all
when man decides what to do apart from God’s will (Deuteronomy 4:2, Deuteronomy 12:32, Proverbs 30:5-6, Matthew 7:21-
23, Mark 7:1-9, James 2:10, and Revelation 22:18-19).  The inspired text clearly sates: “And whatsoever ye do in word or
deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him” (Colossians 3:17).



  Since we have seen that whatsoever we do is to be done by the authority of Christ, we need to be a little more specific for
those who seek to play with words.  According to Thayer the Greek terms translated “whatsoever” in Colossians 3:17 (hostis  
/  hetis  /  hoti) means: “whatever”.  The English term “whatsoever” is defined by Webster as: “whatever”.  “Whatever” means:
“anything or everything”.  In both the Greek definition and the English definition we cannot escape the fact that anything or
everything we say or do must be by the authority of Christ.  Mankind needs to realize that we cannot choose our own paths in
life and end up where we really want to be.  Jeremiah penned a powerful passage that makes this point clear: “O Lord, I know
that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps” (Jeremiah 10:23).



  “Man's goings are of the Lord; how can a man then understand his own way” (Proverbs 20:24)?  Our existence as
mankind is the Lord’s doing.  We are God’s creation (Genesis 1:27 and Deuteronomy 4:32).  A creation does not look to his
or her creator and begin to argue about who is boss.  Have you ever heard two little kids bickering and the one says to the
other “you’re not my boss”?  With that in mind, consider how often adults sound like bickering children when they begin to
question God’s authority.

  We need God to guide us because eternity is in His hands, not ours (Ecclesiastes 12:14).  We need to have the attitude of the
Psalmist who said: “For this God is our God for ever and ever: he will be our guide even unto death” (Psalms 48:14).  
God doesn’t reach down from Heaven and move us like little chess pieces.  His counsel is through His word (Psalms 119:
105).  If we become able students of God’s words we will quickly see our inadequacies and learn to be followers of the
Almighty who does all things right.  Instead of listening to the self-help information we see on television, read in books, or hear
on the radio, we will learn as students of God’s word that His wisdom is far greater than the wisest men on earth (I Corinthians
1:19-31).  Notice what the Psalmist opens his writing with: “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the
ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.  But his delight is in the law of the
Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night” (Psalms 1:1-2).



  I had a study once over the doctrine of missionary societies.  I sat with a few men and tried to discuss what the Bible has to
say about missionary societies.  When you talk about the scriptures and what they say about missionary societies it is a rather
short discussion because you do not read of such in all of God’s word.  However, these fellows thought they had authority for
the missionary society by using Matthew 28:19 and Mark 16:15-16.  They said the command to go and preach is generic and
therefore could be fulfilled by what man determines is expedient.  Folks, if God wanted men to form human organizations to
finance and oversee the work of preaching, He would have said so.  The command to go and preach is specified as it was
given in those two passages to individuals not human organizations.  Furthermore, when one begins in Acts 2 and reads texts
such as Acts 5:42, Acts 8:5ff., etc. they see that man preached God’s word as individuals and the only organization that ever
sent out preachers was the local church (Acts 13:1-3).  

  Man, in his own wisdom, often sees more in God’s word than what was written.  If Heaven is to be our home we’d better
learn to stop playing games with the truth.  The scriptures fully equip us to all good works and gives us all that pertains to life
and godliness (II Timothy 3:16-17 and II Peter 1:3).  If it’s good, God has told us about it, shown it to us, or gave us a clear
implication to follow.  “The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise” (Proverbs
12:15).
Volume VII   ~   Issue XX   ~   February 11th, 2007
Words of Truth Weekly - Online Edition
What must one do to be saved (Acts 2:37)?  Hear and believe the Gospel (Mark 16:15-16 & Romans 10:17), repent of their sins
(Acts 3:19), confess Christ (Acts 8:37), and be baptized (immersed) for the remission of sins into the church of Christ (Acts 2:38, I
Corinthians 12:12-13, and Romans 6:1-6).  One must then remain faithful (Rev. 2:10).
Edited by: Brian A. Yeager
Too Much Thinking and Not Enough Knowing
By: Brian A. Yeager
What Does Whatsoever Mean?
Man is Not His Own Guide
Conclusion