Obedience Without Understanding

There’s something I’ve wanted to say. I’ve spoken and written about it before, but not very many times. It concerns something that a lot of people misunderstand. It’s about the very important matter of obedience. We have all the words of life in the New Testament. But there are people whose concept of obedience consists of this idea: When I come to personally agree with what is written in the Word, then I am to do it. But that isn’t obedience. Then I am just living according to my own understanding. See if you have gotten hold of this; it’s not so certain that you have. This is the common understanding of obedience; people don’t actually know what the heart and essence of obedience is. Obedience is to do exactly what is written, simply because it is the Word of God, and we are to obey Him. It’s not a question of whether I am in agreement or whether I understand; I am to do what He says, without understanding it. Take the word, “Obey your leaders . . . .” Heb. 13:17. Many people follow this verse only under the conditions just described. When they eventually come to agree that it would be good to do what has been said, then they do it; but that isn’t obedience. Obedience is to do what those whom you consider to be your leaders have said, without understanding why, and without necessarily agreeing with what they have said. That is obedience. This is easy to understand when we think about children. We want to have obedient children. We don’t mean by that, that the children obey just when they agree with what the parents say! That’s unheard of! They are to do what the parents say because the parents have said it, and because God’s Word says that they are to obey their parents. In school today children are taught that they shouldn’t just do what their parents say, but that they must think for themselves. This is what all your children are being taught at school. It’s up to you as parents to teach them that this is utter insanity.

Let’s take an example. Say you regard me as a leader and I say, “Speak up, speak louder.” There is hardly anyone that obeys. It’s no use trying to make out that it’s impossible for you to speak louder. That just isn’t true. If you were to tumble off a pier, for example, and couldn’t swim, then you would discover that you can speak louder. Then you would yell and there would be plenty of volume. The fact of the matter is that you permit yourself to be disobedient. You don’t think that you should speak louder. However, it’s written, “Obey your leaders.” Of course when you don’t have any “leaders,” then there is no obligation. But when you reckon someone to be your leader or elder, then the Word, “Obey your leaders,” applies. There is no one that is unable to speak louder; that’s a lie, an absolute lie. You do what you are used to and dismiss what your leader says. The thought has never occurred to you that you should do it simply because he has said it. I know I have expressed, at least once, that to obey this word is very wise, and that if you took heed to only this, then it would start you on the shortest path to salvation that there is. Everything in life would be easier then. It could take a long time for you to come to agreement with everything that your leader says; you won’t get far that way. It’s like this with everything concerning obedience. In the Scriptures there are many wonderful life-giving words concerning every area of life. When you agree with what is written, and you do it, then you call it obedience. But that isn’t obedience. Obedience is to do it because the one whom the Bible tells us we should be obedient to has said it. That is first and foremost God, and subsequently leaders, parents, and elders. The younger are to submit themselves to the elder—submit themselves to, it says; they are to be under—they are to do what their elders say. I can well believe that this matter is most commonly practiced in this fashion: When you are in agreement, then you do it. When you are of the same opinion, then you do it, but this has nothing to do with obedience.

Try to get hold of this, and speak up when you come forward. If you are in the habit of speaking quietly when you testify, don’t avoid the issue by staying in your seat. Break this habit! Come forward and practice obedience. I have spoken about this for as long as I can remember, and it has happened that I have spoken to the same person up to three times, while he was speaking. “Speak louder,” I have said. Out of the question! Not even a hint of change. In everyday language he “couldn’t care less” about what was said. That isn’t the way to heaven. Regarding this matter of humility, I can well imagine that there are many here who have judged themselves powerfully.

There’s one more thing. It’s one thing to sit in your seat and make a decision, and repent. But it’s another matter whether anything will come of it. Come forward and let it be known to everyone present. Then it is practically impossible for it not to produce results. Then you have everyone who hears you as a witness as to whether the desired result is actually obtained. So when you have, in all seriousness, made a decision, the wisest thing possible is to come forward and let it be known to everyone. Then you bind yourself to the commitment you’ve made. It’s the wisest thing that you can do. On the other hand, you can make a decision and think it’s not worth saying anything because you’re not certain that anything will come of it. By confessing it to everyone present, you become united with the desired goal. We have a well-known religious song about a bold confession: “Dare to be a Daniel, dare to stand alone, dare to have a purpose true, and dare to make it known.” Confess it before everyone; it will be a tremendous help to you personally.