Bulletins
A Means to an End
A Means to an End
By Joe R. Price
Does the end justify the means? Many people think so. They have little trouble achieving their goal by whatever means will work. If it means lying to succeed, they will deceive. If it means destroying the credibility of an innocent person, they will malign. If it means rejecting the commands of God, they rebel.
This way of thinking must not find a safe harbour in the Christian’s heart. When accused of saying “Let us do evil that good may come,” the apostle Paul refuted this error in strong language (Rom. 3:8). “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it” (Rom. 6:1-2)?
God disapproves of “the end justifies the means” approach to problem-solving. Moses was rebuked, and his access to the promised land was denied because, when God commanded him to speak to the rock (to bring forth water), he struck it twice. One with the “end justifies the means” mindset says, “God must have been pleased since water was produced.” But God was not pleased with the means Moses used, calling it unbelief and rebellion (Num. 20:12; 27:14). When God commanded King Saul to completely destroy the Amalekites along with their possessions, Saul and the people spared king Agag and the best of the animals (1 Sam. 15:3, 9). Saul’s defense of his disobedience was the spared animals were going to be sacrificed to the Lord (1 Sam. 15:15). God was not impressed. “Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, And to heed than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, He also has rejected you from being king” (1 Sam. 15:22–23). To think our “end” justifies the “means” is as presumptuous as asserting any means justifies the end (Jer. 10:23; Prov. 14:12; Acts 26:9). To be acceptable to God, both our end and the means to that end must have divine sanction.
Proper, practical application of this truth is critical. We do not decide for ourselves the “means” (how) of being saved, of the Christian life, or of going to heaven. We listen and obey (Luke 8:8, 18; Matt. 7:21). When the Lord establishes the means to the end, He expects us to follow (Luke 6:46).
All we do in life must be based on the authority of Jesus Christ (Matt. 28:18; Acts 4:12; Col. 3:17). Whether in the areas of morality, religion, personal relationships, the work, worship, and organization of the local church, or any other activity of life, our end must agree with God’s purpose (revealed in Scripture, 2 Tim. 3:16-17). Furthermore, the means we use to achieve that end must be approved by God’s word. To do less is a rebellious presumption. When we do so, we make ourselves the final authority over our conduct instead of Christ.
Those who adopt and apply “the end justifies the means” philosophy will receive a just condemnation for their arrogant rebellion against the Lord (Rom. 3:8). God does not bless such rebellion against His will and ways. Therefore, let us humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God, assured that He will exalt us in due time (1 Pet. 5:6; James 4:10).
Obeying divinely revealed truth is our only means to God’s end (Matt. 7:21-23).
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