Approved? But By Whom?
Man seeks approval. This seems to be a taught trait. As man domesticates animals for work and as companions, he seeks to instill this in those creatures as well. Man has even gone so far as to breed animals with certain qualities so they will be more obedient, attentive, protective, or playful. These animals are then taught to seek approval of its owners. However, when all is said and done, and if the attempt to teach such to animals comes to nought, it matters little. When the beast dies, there is nothing beyond for it. In Eccl. 3:20-21 we are told that physical bodies all return to the same state. Here we are also informed that the ‘spirit’ (soul) of man has a destination. “All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again. 21 Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth?”
If the animal cannot be trained, or taught to seek approval of its owner, or it lives its entire life in the wild according to nature and the instincts with which it was born, it does not change its destiny. It simply lives, then dies, then that of which its body was composed, returns to the elements from which it came. The ‘spirit’ of life is all the animal has. It does not possess a soul. On the other hand, man has the ‘spirit’ of life as well as a soul. In Gen 2:7 we are told: “God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.” None of God’s creation, except humanity, was granted this.
Because man was given a soul, he was also granted the faculties to reason, to think, to decide and to choose. Parents (hopefully) teach their children to seek approval in the right way and from the proper source. But not all approval is that which should be sought. In Gen. 4:5 we see that Cain sought approval of God (the right source), yet in the wrong way regarding his offering. Cain sought approval according to his ‘own will” and not that of God. In Gen. 4:7a we find: If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. Seeking wrong approval or acceptance is sin.
Because man has choice, he can determine in what, and of whom he will seek to be accepted or approved. However, mankind will fare much better when properly informed before making such a decision with eternal consequences. Upon an examination of God’s dealings with His O.T. people (Israel) for the sole purpose of bringing the promised Messiah (the Christ), we find they often failed to seek the approval of God. In fact, in Jer. 14:10-11, the prophet, guided by the Spirit, had a message for them. He reminded them: “they loved to wander, they have not refrained their feet”, which means they chose to NOT FOLLOW God’s Word or seek His approval. Therefore, God did “not accept them” and would “now remember their iniquity, and visit their sins.” This means God would punish them.
In fact, their refusal to seek God’s approval in full accordance with His Word prompted God to tell the prophet: “Pray not for this people for their good.” They had hardened their hearts and refused God to the point that God had determined: “When they fast, I will not hear their cry; and when they offer burnt offering and an oblation, I will not accept them: but I will consume them by the sword, and by the famine, and by the pestilence.” God’s own people, in failing to seek His approval, had brought upon themselves rejection from God and destruction of body and soul. They had no one to blame but themselves as they were creatures who had been granted the power to choose.
In Rom. 15:4 we read that the things of the past recorded in God’s Word are for our learning. We also see in 1Cor. 10:11 that the record of the outcome of the decisions of others were for our examples and written for our admonition. Will we not learn from others, or heed the admonition of God lest we make the same mistakes? Sadly, some don’t. In Jno. 8:44a, nearing the end of the O.T. Law of God, Christ called out some of the Jews of His day who failed to properly follow God and in so doing was approved of the devil. He said: “Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do.” Christ had observed their actions and knew their thoughts, so His judgement was righteous.
In Rom. 6:16, the brethren of that city were reminded that the one of whom they sought approval and to whom they yielded, would be whom they served. Again, choice is a factor. We see in vss 17-18 that they had once ‘served’ sin, but when they “obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine” they were made “free from sin”. In other words, when they were ‘baptized into Christ’ in which they contacted His blood, in full accordance with the N.T. doctrine, their past sins were remitted. In so doing, they had full approval of God. This is stated in a slightly different way in Eph. 4:22-24. There we see we are to “put off” the “old man” and his “conversation” (manner of life) and be “renewed in the spirit of your mind”. This means when we are taught what God approves (and are shown it in His Word), if we seek God’s Approval, we will do as God Commands. If not, we are seeking our own approval. Surely none desires to suffer the fate of being rejected of God because we didn’t seek His approval or obey Him.
In Acts 10:34-35, as Peter stood before Cornelius and his house to preach that soul saving message of the gospel, the Spirit had him say: “Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: 35 But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.” To “fear God and work righteousness” is to be obedient to God’s Word. Why will you not seek God’s approval by obeying the gospel, and then remaining faithful to His Word today? To seek approval of self, or of man is to bring condemnation upon your eternal soul.
Dennis Strickland – Mooresville church of Christ
