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 Remember
the old story about the man who was going on a journey, and
asked his son to lay out the farm according to his instructions?
Corn was to be planted in this field, beans in that, the garden
here, a shed built there. The boy put the corn where his father
wanted it, and the beans where the father said. But he changed
places for the shed and garden. When his father returned and
objected to his son's disobedience, the boy argued he had done
half of what his father ordered; but the father said, "No,
you did nothing in obedience. It is obvious that you only put
the corn and beans where you did, because you thought
they should go there."
We
might well ask ourselves the question, "WHY do we live as
we do? Is it out of respect for God and His laws, or are we
simply following a pattern of mores that we approve, and which
represents no higher authority than our own traditions. The motive
for obedience is an aspect of law that has been somewhat
ignored.
In
Paul's arguments on law versus faith (Romans and Galatians) he
certainly does not rule out law. He says faith establishes law
(Rom. 3:31); and he says the law is "holy, just and
good" (7:12). Its weakness was by virtue of its subjects,
men (8:3); but even then, it served to bring them unto Christ
— aware of their need for mercy and forgiveness (Gal. 3:24).
One
can not accept the existence of God and ignore the expression of
His will; and acknowledging the relation of creature to Creator
imposes an obligation to submit to His hand (Rom. 1:20-21;
9:20-21). There is a
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close correlation between keeping the
commands of God and abiding in God, and He in us (Jn. 14:23; 1
Jn. 2:3-6).
Christ
is the "author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey
Him" (Heb. 5:9); and saving faith is an obedient faith
(Jas. 2:24) "which worketh by love" (Gal. 5:6). The
principle here is not that of law meritoriously obeyed (which
would demand perfection) but because obedience from the heart
demonstrates our attitude toward Him who made and gave the law.
How else could the breaking of one law make a man "guilty
of all"? James explains, "He that said, Do not commit
adultery said also, Do not kill" (Jas. 2:10-12; 4:10-11).
To select from all God said those parts we approve and
are willing to obey, assumes a position above that of God. It is
to imagine ourselves judges OF the law, hence OF God, instead of
realizing we are subject to and are judged BY the law, hence BY
God. Without the proper attitude toward God, no obedience (?) is
acceptable to Him.
Some
have suggested these Bible approved motives for obedience: fear
of punishment, appreciation of our position as clay to Potter,
and varying degrees of love for God. Paul says "the love of
Christ (our recognition of His love for us) constrains us"
(2 Cor. 5:14). However you list them, they start with faith
"that God is, and that he is a rewarder of them that
diligently seek him" (Heb. 11:6). Perhaps we are failing to
elicit more obedience to God because we do not work hard enough
at preparing the soil, or stirring proper motives.
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