God inscribed the tombstone of King David with the following statement: “For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell asleep” (Acts 13:36). That was the balance of his life: serving the will of God.
The bottom line of David’s life in the eyes of God is very impressive. Despite all his failures (think of Bathsheba, Uriah, Adonijah, the census), what the Lord said about him remained: “I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart, who will do all My will” (Acts 13:22). This is another reason why David appears in the hall of fame of heroes of faith (Hebrews 11:32). We also find a reference to David’s obedience to the will of God in Josiah, under whom a mighty revival could take place; his life is summarized thus: “And he did what was right in the sight of the LORD, and walked in the ways of his father David; he did not turn aside to the right hand or to the left” (2 Chronicles 34:2).
We can clearly see from these Bible verses what is important to God in our lives: that we do His will. When He takes stock, He wants to see (despite all our failures, from which we cannot and do not want to absolve ourselves) that His will is the standard for us. In a world in which everyone does “what is right in his own eyes” (Judges 21:25), we can swim against this mainstream and ask what God wants from us. In this, we would be like Paul, whose driving force from his conversion until his death was the following question: “What shall I do, Lord?” (Acts 22:10).
The importance that God attaches to obedience to His will even goes so far as to make it a yardstick for judging our love for Him—thus, the Lord Jesus says: “He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me…. If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word” (John 14:21, 23). Or, to put it the other way around: Whoever does not keep My commandments does not love Me! That is very, very serious.
Hand on heart: How important is it to us to do the will of God? We clearly feel that our “I” lives in constant opposition to it, even as believers. The Lord Jesus Himself showed us what priority the will of God should have—even (or especially) in situations where, humanly speaking, it is difficult for us: “Not My will, but Yours, be done” (Luke 22:42).
The will of God in the NT
The following points regarding the will of God are important:
(a) It is up to us to find out this will (whether it is His general, moral will or His will for our personal lives): “… that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God” (Romans 12:2).
It is interesting to note here that it is not necessary to ask about His will in many areas of life, as it has already been revealed. Subsequent passages in the New Testament show that God’s will includes the following:
- Holiness in practical life (1 Thessalonians 4:3)
- Gratitude in the heart (1 Thessalonians 5:18)
- Doing good to unbelievers (1 Peter 2:15)
(b) Despite our own wishes and plans, the will of God should still decide: “… that I may come to you with joy by the will of God” (Romans 15:32); “If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that” (James 4:15).
(c) Doing the will of God is not a burdensome duty, not a reluctant compulsion, but a joy of the heart: “… as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart” (Ephesians 6:6).
(d) God desires that obeying His will is an integral part of our lives as Christians: “… that you may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:17).
(e) The will of God can also sometimes include suffering (1 Peter 3:17; 4:19)—which is called “better.”
(f) The will of God is contrasted with the desires of men, which reminds us of the conflict between the spirit and the flesh (Galatians 5): “… to live for the rest of his time in the flesh no longer for the lusts of men, but for the will of God” (1 Peter 4:2).
(g) Doing the will of God is associated with perseverance (Hebrews 10:36). It is not a sprint but a marathon, from conversion to the rapture.
David was characterized by his desire to do God’s will. Even if he did not always do it, he repented and turned back to the Lord. This path is always possible for us: it is never too late to desire to live according to God’s will—not just when making big decisions but 24/7, as a life program. Such a life honors God.
What would He be able to write on your tombstone and mine? What is our driving force?
“And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever” (1 John 2:17). What an incentive for us!