Question:
54.4—Is everything clear-cut, black and white to God? Example: When two people feel they are both doing God’s will and they are doing two different things, is it that one of them is wrong or that God is showing them each something different on the same subject? (Basically, are certain things relative to the individual or individual situation?)
Answer:
54.4—Everything is “clear-cut, black and white” regarding whatever God tells us in His Word is His will. Here are a few examples: “For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication” (1 Thessalonians 4:3). “Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18). “Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well. For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men” (1 Peter 2:13-15). God “will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:4).
But, as you say, God’s will for each person is also “relative to the individual or individual situation.” In other words, “God has a special plan and purpose for each of His people.” He makes His will known to them through His Word and:
(1) Through close communion with Himself as He says: “I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with Mine eye” (Psalm 32:8).
(2) By having a single eye desiring only to please the Lord: “The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light” (Matthew 6:22).
(3) By the Spirit revealing the Scriptures to us, and thus leading us into all truth. “Howbeit when He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth: for He shall not speak of Himself; but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak: and He will show you things to come” (John 16:13).
(4) By spiritual impressions. Examples of these impressions are recorded in Acts 16:6-9 when Paul was on a missionary journey. He was “forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the Word in Asia” and then “they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not.” But when they came to Troas, Paul had a dream in which there stood “a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us.” So he went to the city of Philippi in Macedonia where the Philippian jailor and others were saved and later an assembly was formed in that city.
(5) Through godly counsel: “Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counselors there is safety” (Proverbs 11:14). We thank God for giving godly men like those in the tribe of Issachar “that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do” (1 Chronicles 12:32). We should seek the counsel of those who lead by example, give the direction found in the Scriptures that applies to the situation, and who teach us to only follow them as they follow Christ (1 Corinthians 11:1).
God’s will is specially tailored for each of His children so they can bring glory to Christ, blessing to others, as well as blessing to themselves. The truth of “the one body” is that each member has a different function, and we are not in the position to know who is right and who is wrong unless the Scriptures are not followed. For example, if a man and woman live together without being married, we know this is wrong because it violates God’s will that is expressed in His Word: “For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication” (1 Thessalonians 4:3).
We may see others doing things we do not believe God would have us do where there is no direct violation of the Scriptures, and the Lord may convict us to speak to them about it, but we should not seek to force them to do what we think. Each of us must answer to God for what we do and don’t do (Romans 14:4). So, in a real sense we cannot walk in our brother’s shoes, but we are responsible to be sure we are walking in God’s will for our lives.