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One of Abraham Lincoln’s favorite stories was about a horse that was about sold near where he once lived. He told it as follows:
The horse was supposed to be fast, and quite a number of people were present at the time appointed for the sale. A small boy was employed to ride the horse backward and forward to exhibit his points. One of the would-be buyers followed the boy down the road and asked him confidentially if the horse had a splint. “Well, mister,” said the boy, “if it’s good for him he has got it, but if it isn’t good for him he hasn’t.
I wonder if a lot of people take that same approach to serving the Lord. They feel like they are doing what God wants even if they don’t know exactly what that is.
The people of Athens were like that. They made an idol to an unknown God, assuming that any god would want an idol. Paul attempted to help them overcome their ignorant worship with the facts about who God really is and what he wants from man. Some folks listened, some folks were happy in their ignorance.
But let’s consider what Paul had to say to them:
“Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent” (Acts 17:30).
Ignorance isn’t the solution. God has shown us who he is and what he wants. Assuming what we offer is good for us if it’s good for him, isn’t the approach we should have to the Creator of the universe.
Are we sure we are pleasing Him or are we just assuming what we got is what He wants?
Barry Haynes
Hope, AR