Be Led, Especially in Good Works

Righteousness pursued through self-work even with seemingly good intentions, is so widespread that it often goes unnoticed. This occurs when we are insensitive to the directions of the Spirit, frequently forging ahead of Him to execute our judgments about what we believe is good. Insensitivity doesn’t necessarily arise from being steeped in dark sin but rather from simple ignorance, even when we desire to fulfill the will of the Lord. I would describe this phenomenon as a fervent desire for works in honor of Him driven by our will, rather than works aligned and driven by His will.

While we may recognize and discern what is good, the question arises: are we free to pursue that good without God’s permission? If God does not permit it, our time would be wasted on a fruitless pursuit, as nothing comes to pass without His nod (Lamentations 3:37). Would it not be best to optimize our activity and achieve the best possible results by surrendering even our good intentions to the will of the Spirit? The good thing we want to do for the Lord might be absolutely necessary, but what if God has designated someone else to do it for Him (Acts 13:2)? Or what if He has a specific timing in mind (Ecclesiastes 3:1)?

David sought to build a house for the Lord, a noble gesture that the Lord approved of. However, the Lord made His will known to David (2 Samuel 7:5), stating that although what he purposed to do was good in His eyes, He would rather it be done by his son Solomon. Consequently, David conceded his plans and left it for Solomon to carry out. What if David had not heeded the will of the Lord and proceeded to build the temple anyway? Wouldn’t the Lord have frustrated his plans? Wouldn’t he have deserved all the heartache and the loss of resources, not to mention the great opportunity cost of doing His will in some other area? Just because it’s good and for the Lord does not negate God’s will being foremost. Nonetheless, that which the Lord has purposed is that which will eventually be done (Proverbs 19:21).

The principle holds even for esteemed figures like the Apostle Paul, who encountered obstacles when attempting to spread the Word in Asia. In Acts 16:7, we see that he attempted to enter certain provinces, only for the Holy Spirit to prevent him. His plans were frustrated, and he was compelled to travel to Troas, where he received a dream (Acts 16:9) about the need and will of God to move on to Macedonia to spread the gospel.

However, considering Paul’s stature as the great Apostle, can we say that Paul disobeyed the Holy Spirit? I do not think so. I have come to believe that God judges based on intent, as He knows the heart of man. So, if He finds your heart in the right place, as with Paul, the worst you can suffer is a frustrated or wasted effort. Patience, waiting, and aligning our pursuits with the Spirit’s guidance are key to success in serving the Lord (Hosea 12:6). Yes, God has instilled in us skill and passion for His use, granting us discretion to a significant extent (1 Corinthians 14:32). Whatever good comes to our hearts that we can do, we must do it. I am only advocating that it be done in step with the Spirit for maximum benefit and success (John 11:10). This holds and can apply to everything else we do in His name.

Some may question, ‘How do we truly know, and how sensitive must we be to discern every aspect of God’s will for better precision?’ Even Paul couldn’t discern correctly until he had invested his energy into the journey. It wasn’t until after the fact that the Holy Spirit made His will known to Paul through a dream. While this is true, let’s consider the example of Jesus. Did Jesus, at the beginning of His ministry, ever move with imprecision? In fact, in situations where quick action might have been expected, Jesus demonstrated patience, waiting for the right time.

But some of them said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?”- John 11:37

Take, for instance, the story of Lazarus. Jesus knew he was sick and could have gone to heal him, as He did with many others. But not with Lazarus—why? Because He had a specific purpose for him that differed from His plans for others. Jesus waited until Lazarus had died before setting out to bring him back to life, revealing the glory of God to His disciples and bystanders (John 11:14). It would have been commendable to heal Lazarus when he was sick, but it was even more impactful when he was brought back to life (John 11:45). This exemplifies sensitivity to the will of the Spirit, making judgments not based on what we see or hear (Isaiah 11:3) but on how the Spirit desires to be glorified.

Indeed, it’s not an immediate process. Jesus Himself grew in wisdom and stature (Luke 2:52), indicating that reaching peak sensitivity and precision in our work takes time. Nevertheless, we must be conscious and aspire to reach that destination. Until then, we may engage in various works, hoping that at least one resonates enough with God to receive His blessing (Ecclesiastes 11:6), especially in the context of evangelism (1 Corinthians 3:6). We must persist in this process, guarding against the risk of losing faith and conviction in our journey, all the while pressing on for a more precise execution of His will.

Righteousness is storytelling about the glory of God. We do not know that story better than the Author Himself, so we must be cautious to heed His direction according to how He wants the story to be told, so that He may truly be glorified.