Don’t ask if it works, ask if it’s right.

I was reading a relatively obscure story in Scripture today. Jeremiah 44 contains the narrative of the prophet Jeremiah in Egypt. He was there because he had traveled with the unfaithful remnant from Jerusalem so he could keep speaking God’s words to them.

At one point he channeled God’s direct command to stop worshipping idols, and in a stunning act of obstinance they refused. They said “Ever since we stopped burning incense to the Queen of Heaven and pouring out drink offerings to her, we have had nothing and have been perishing by sword and famine.”

In other words, disobedience had been working for them. That’s a very short trip away from doing things only because they work and not because it’s how we are called to follow Jesus.

How many believers, and churches, are more interested in what works than what’s right, Biblical, or obedient? How many of us think that if we do certain things then God is required to bless us or at least protect us from all difficulties?

I know plenty of organizations that, just because they have huge growth, have lots of fans and followers trying to replicate that “X” factor to guarantee the same result. Face it, much of our Christian book and conference market depends on people needing to discover what might guarantee growth and God’s blessing. In the best case, these resources point people back to the Bible and back to surrender to Jesus. Unfortunately, there is a lot out there that is less than best case.

When I was younger one of my mentors told me something I’ve never forgotten: “Once you believe that what you’re doing is causing God’s blessing, His blessing will move on.”