Then the disciples came, and said to him, “Do you know that the Pharisees were offended, when they heard this saying?” But he answered, “Every plant which my heavenly Father didn’t plant will be uprooted. Leave them alone. They are blind guides of the blind. If the blind guide the blind, both will fall into a pit.”
(Matthew 15:12–14)
When it comes to the most important things in life—spiritual things (2 Corinthians 4:18)—too many ask the wrong questions. Rather than asking what makes a certain practice right (i.e., pleasing to God, see Ephesians 5:10), most are going to ask: “What’s wrong with doing _____?” It’s as if that—since they’re the ones doing the questionable things and being asked to show from the Bible where they’re getting their authority for doing those questionable things—they can’t be really questioned. Paul said, “Test all things, and hold firmly that which is good” (1 Thessalonians 5:21).
Essentially, their motives are wrong, and so they ask the wrong questions. And the reason why their motives are wrong is because their heart is wrong—seeking to establish their own righteousness, they are unwilling to submit to God’s (Romans 10:3). For example:
Behold, a certain lawyer stood up and tested him, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” He said to him, “What is written in the law? How do you read it?” He answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.” He said to him, “You have answered correctly. Do this, and you will live.” But he, desiring to justify himself, asked Jesus, “Who is my neighbor?” (Luke 10:25–29).
The truth has nothing to hide and if we’re sincerely wanting to please God now—glorifying Him, and seeking the eternal reward of being in His presence forever—then we must boldly ask of ourselves and others about the Scriptural reasons why we do what we do, and the way we do it: because it matters to God what and how we do His commands (1 John 5:2–3). Jesus said, “But the hour comes, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father seeks such to be his worshipers. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth” (John 4:23–24).
Currently there are many religiously-minded people who are doing things the way they want to do them without biblical foundations. They didn’t read from God’s word what they are practicing. Some have basically defended themselves—what they’re doing and how they’re doing it—by saying that they can’t be wrong because they’re the ones doing these things from sincere hearts. “These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion” (Colossians 2:23). I am reminded of Uzzah and the ark of God (1 Chronicles 13:5–14). Uzzah was sincerely wrong.
Now Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his censer and put fire in it and laid incense on it and offered unauthorized fire before the Lord, which he had not commanded them. And fire came out from before the Lord and consumed them, and they died before the Lord. Then Moses said to Aaron, “This is what the Lord has said: ‘Among those who are near me I will be sanctified, and before all the people I will be glorified.’” And Aaron held his peace (Leviticus 10:1–3).
“Unauthorized fire … which he had not commanded them.” If we are open to God’s word—reading and understanding it—then we are going to find out first what it is that He wants before offering what we think or hope is pleasing (Matthew 6:33; Proverbs 2:1–10).
Again, too many are asking the wrong questions, concerned about the wrong things, and ignoring the source of the problem, which is a heart set on their own gain (Ezekiel 33:31). “Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves” (James 1:21–22).
Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth. By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him; for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything. Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him. And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God, and God in him. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us (1 John 3:18–24).
If we want to please God as true worshipers, then we must first go to His word to find what it is that He wants us to be, think, and do. “All these things my hand has made, and so all these things came to be, declares the Lord. But this is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word” (Isaiah 66:2).
