"YES,
BUT...."
Every
parent has surely been faced with the response, "Yes, but..."
when telling their children to do something or when explaining why
they wanted them to do it. Such an exchange has often marked the
ensuing of a "clashing of the wills" where only one comes
out victorious. All too often the child has been allowed to "win
out" by avoiding the will of the parents. But there are those
parents who will "stick to their guns" and teach their
children the valuable lesson of submission to authority and the
proper respect
for authority that God demands of all people.
Adults
are no exception to the rule when it comes to a pitting of our will
against that of another. We have all been guilty of saying, "Yes,
but...." either verbally or inwardly when faced against someone
with whom we disagreed. Many an employee has done this with their
employer when they disagreed with a particular order or demand on how
a job was to be done. (Isn't it amazing how everyone's way of doing
the job is always better than the way the boss wants it done?) We
all value our opinion and are reluctant to surrender it to another
without at least some kind of a defense.
It
is imperative for us to understand that, while we have a will, it is
not always
appropriate that it be honored to satisfy our own gratification.
Peter made this clear when he wrote, "Therefore submit
yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake, whether to
the king as supreme, or to the governors, as to those who are sent by
him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who
do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put
to silence the ignorance of foolish men - as free, yet not using
liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God. Honor all
people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king." (1
Pet. 2:13-17) We do not live in a Burger King society where we can
always "have it our way."
Jesus,
as our perfect example, did not always do His own
will - even though He was God in the flesh. He said, "...I do
not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me."
(Jn. 5:30) "For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own
will, but the will of Him who sent Me." (Jn. 6:38) This is no
greater demonstrated than at Gethsemane when "...He began to be
sorrowful and deeply distressed." (Mt. 26:37) and He prayed, "O
My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me;
nevertheless,
not as I will, but as You will."
(vs. 39)
Our
petty disagreements that challenge our will pale in the face of such
great sacrifice as Jesus demonstrated. Yet we often forget in the
moment of decision and allow our will to dictate our own desires
rather than that which is for the greater good.
Wisdom
and good judgment demand that our will conform to that which does not
appeal to the lusts of the flesh in favor of that which stands in
contrast as matters of moral and spiritual principles. This is
especially true in regard to how we dress during these hot days of
summer. Comfort and fashion of the day often gives place to
immodesty and that which is indecent. Paul admonished Timothy to
teach that "...women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with
propriety and moderation...which is proper for women professing
godliness..." (1 Tim. 2:9, 10)
While
the body is telling us to seek relief from the heat by putting on
less clothing, our conscience should
be telling us otherwise. Hence, there is a conflict of our will
against the flesh. Paul discussed this inward battle in the latter
part of the seventh chapter of his letter to the Romans. He
concluded that "I find then a law, that evil is present with me,
the one who wills to do good. For I delight in the law of God
according to the inward man. But I see another law in my members,
warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to
the law of sin which is in my members." (Rom. 7:21-23)
We
lose this battle when we give into the flesh and toss caution to the
wind by putting on that which is comfortable but provocative. In
doing so, we tempt others to sin with their eyes. Jesus said,
"...that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already
committed adultery with her in his heart." (Mt. 5:28) "Do
you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of
God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor
adulterers...will
inherit the kingdom of God." (1 Cor. 6:9, 10) How important is
your will to be comfortable or fashionable compared to the soul of
someone whom you may encourage to commit adultery in their heart?
Short
pants that reveal the leg can be an enticement to the eye that is
inclined to look. Sheer clothing or low cut blouses may also be
comfortable, but they can cause the death of a soul that surrenders
its will to lust for that which is off limits. Keep this in mind as
you choose your clothing. You can dress fashionably and in
reasonable comfort without compromising the law of moderation and
decency.
The
attitude that we must guard against is that which replies to truth
and reason by saying, "Yes, but..." "I know that's
what the bible teaches, but..."
The justifications that follow include things like, "...but
what about the way I
feel
about this?" "...but
don't I have a right to be happy?" "...but
what I
think
about it is my
business." "but
you just don't understand." The bottom line is, am I willing
to surrender my will for a higher principle?
If
you ever find yourself giving in to your own will when you know it
isn't the right thing to do, remember the parable that Jesus told
about the two sons. "But what do you think? A man had two
sons, and he came to the first and said, 'Son, go, work today in my
vineyard.' He answered and said, 'I will not,' but afterward he
regretted it and went. Then he came to the second and said likewise.
And he answered and said, 'I go, sir,' but he did not go. Which of
the two did the will of the father?" (Mt. 21:28-31) Which one
surrendered his will in order to do the right thing?
Our
will is something that truly belongs to us - something that we can
actually sacrifice
that is of value to us and by which we can prove to God that we love
and honor Him above ourselves while saying, "Yes, therefore..."
-
Gary V. Womack - July 2005