Disobedience

<<break the rules, refuse to comply>>

Disobeying is the rejection of another’s authority to instruct you what to do. It is inferring, ‘I’m my own master, my wants and desires rule, I’m not submitting to another’. Disobeying is “following the evil inclinations of our hearts; it is going backwards not forwards”, further from the truth and life of Christ (Jer 7:24). God has put His principles for life within the hearts of humanity, so we over-ride our conscience to our own peril (Rom 1:18-32).

“Anyone who knows the good he should do and doesn’t do it, sins” (Jas 4:17). This disobedience destroys relationship with God and negatively affects our relationship to the God-given

Disobeying results in consequences not blessing

authority over us that we have rebelled against (Gen 2:16,17, 3:6,16-19). Disobedience to God brings a curse while obedience brings blessing (Deut 11:26-28, 28:15-68). We position ourselves to be blessed or cursed by our choices. “If you love me, you will do what I command”, so if we disobey God’s commands it means we don’t love Him as much as we love ourselves (Jn 14:15; 1 Jn 5:3).

It is essential to know what we should do (to obey) so we don’t blindly disobey and thus come under the curse. God “commands all people everywhere to repent” (Act 17:30). Whoever has a saving belief in Christ will not perish in hell, “but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son” (Jn 3:16-18). The commandments are summed up as loving God with all our being and loving our neighbour as ourselves (Mk 12:30,31).

While we can choose not to obey, we have no say in the penalty.

It is only acceptable to God to disobey a human order when asked to do something that is contrary to God’s Word (Ex 1:15-21). However in such a case, when we obey God and so disobey man, we must be prepared to accept the consequences of that choice (Act 5:29). Sometimes a suitable alternative or compromise solution can be negotiated (Dan 1:8-16).

Failing to obey causes unnecessary problems, suffering and disappointment in our lives too. For Moses it was not entering the Promised Land (Num 20:7-13; Deut 32:51,52). The consequences of disobedience often involves others besides those who sinned (Josh 6:18,19, 7:24,25). Through Adam’s sin of disobedience, all his descendants (this is all humanity) have become sinners (Rom 5:19).

Laws and penalties are not made for the law-abiding citizens but for those who rebel and disobey civil authority (1 Tim 1:9, 2:1,2). Every act of disobedience receives its just punishment – either now or at the judgement (Rom 14:12; 2 Cor 5:10; Heb 2:2). God

Disobedience is not a wise choice

would rather we obey than after disobeying try to put the matter right by repenting as “To obey is better than sacrifice” for repentance and sacrifice can’t undo the wrong caused by disobedience (1 Sam 15:22). Saul disobeyed because he feared the people more than he respected a clear divine message (1 Sam 15:3,24). Why do I sometimes disobey? Is it peer pressure or an area of uncrucified flesh in me?

The Bible directive is, "Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right" yet increasingly the opposite is being manifest, for "in the last days, people will be lovers of themselves...disobedient to their parents" (Eph 6:1; 2 Tim 3:2).