When You Follow God's Instruction

Occasionally you read a verse or passage in the Bible and it sounds as if it was written specifically for our time. Such is the case with Proverbs 28:4.

Those who forsake the law praise the wicked,

But those who keep the law strive with them.

We live in a day in which many praise the wicked!

In striking contrast, those who follow God’s instruction “strive with them.”

It is worth noting that this is an observation, not a command. In other words, Solomon is not telling his readers to start a fight with those who do not follow God’s instruction. Rather, it is a natural outcome that those who follow God’s instruction will strive with those who do not.

The young Jewish men Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego provide an excellent example. King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon had taken them to Babylon to serve in his court. After erecting a large statue in honor of himself, the king ordered everyone present (all the nobles and other ranking individuals) to bow to the statue when music was played. The three Jewish men were present but did not bow. The king gave them a second chance but they told the king that there was no need because they would not bow.

These three young men were devoted to God. They kept the Law of Moses which forbade them bow to anyone or anything other than God. They did not intend to be disrespectful, yet they were striving with the pagan king because they kept God's instruction. That was simply the nature of their obedience.

There are times when a follower of God intentionally strives with someone who has sinned, such as, a brother in Christ. Even then, Jesus taught that the objective is to restore the brother. So, the one doing wrong is to be approached with gentleness and in a spirit of love. (See Matthew 18:15-17.)

Solomon provided rich wisdom concerning our interaction with fools:

Do not answer a fool according to his folly 

   or you will be like him.

Answer a fool as his folly deserves, 

   that he not be wise in his own eyes. 

--Proverbs 26:4 & 5

The simple point is that a follower of God must be wise in his interaction with those who do not follow. There is a time to speak up and there is a time to remain silent. Wisdom dictates the response.

Ultimately, however, as a follower of God, whether you speak up or remain silent, you will at some time find yourself striving with those who do not follow God’s instruction. Again, that is simply how life works.

Beyond the simple observation of Solomon, this proverb (28:4)may also be taken as a mild warning. After all, people tend to desire to fit in. So, when you do not fit in because you live by God’s instruction, you will undoubtedly appear to be out of synch with society. That may not seem threatening when it is read as words on paper. However, the experience of being on the outside among coworkers, your friend group, family, or society in general adds considerable pressure in one’s life. Jesus noted that some believers fall away “when affliction or persecution arises because of the word.” If we are serious about following God’s instruction, we must prepare our minds..

Finally, Paul reminded us, “If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.” (Romans 12:18) Even so, you must be mindful that by following God’s instruction you will naturally strive with those who do not. For that reason, make it your soul’s decision to remain faithful to God’s instruction at all costs. Your allegiance to Jesus must not be compromised.

Mark Stinnett

December 28, 2025

Faithfulness

I remember preachers pounding the pulpit urging Christians to “be faithful until death” (Revelation 2:10). What does that mean?

Perhaps it is an oversimplification, but you could say that it means that a Christians should not be unfaithful to Christ. (Hmm. Not helpful.)

We understand faithfulness in marriage; it has a twofold meaning. First, the husband and wife both bring to the marriage all that makes marriage a marriage. Second, neither one adds to the marriage something that would pollute the marriage. 

Faithfulness also carries the idea of duration. So, in a marriage, husband and wife commit to each other for the duration of life.

Behind the actions of faithfulness is an attitude of faithfulness. A person intends to be faithful and does not deviate from that intention.

As an illustration, consider…

Many years ago my older sister and I left home at the end of our Christmas break to return to college. There was a blanket of snow on the ground as we began our trip south. Along the way the snow-covered highway became an ice-covered highway. Though driving slowly and carefully, I lost control. We spun around and slid into a ditch, the car pointing north. A kind man in a truck stopped and pulled us out of the ditch. There was no damage to the car and we resumed our journey south to college.

Question: At what point were we headed back home?

• The car slid off the road…heading home?
• The car was pointed north…heading home?
• We were pulled northward out of the ditch…heading home?
• We were a bit shaken up…heading home?

Though we had left the path there was never a point in which we intended to go back home. The mishap and the physical orientation of the car did not indicate a change of heart. Our intentions were always college bound (southbound). In fact, we later pulled off the road intentionally and looked for a place to eat, yet we were still on our way to college.

The illustration simply emphasizes that a person can be faithful to a choice, yet also experience setbacks along the way. Even then, faithfulness has the quality of perseverance and singlemindedness.

In short, faithfulness to Christ means no turning back from one’s choice to follow Christ. Once a devoted disciple to Christ, a Christian never quits, never returns to his former way of thinking and living.

Faithfulness also means, Christ only. There is no room for another Lord. You cannot mix Christianity with another religion or mix in another philosophy or mix in ungodly attitudes and sinful behaviors. The Bible never teaches “Christ…and,” rather, Christ alone.

In the Old Testament God is sometimes described as a jealous God. The Apostle Paul explained:

There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.

—Ephesians 4:5-6

Faithfulness is ALL Christ,

     ONLY Christ,

          ALWAYS Christ,

               NO MATTER THE COST...Christ.

Mark Stinnett

March 9, 2025