Glenn Ahrens: (302) 761-3286

Glenn@ElShaddaiChristian.com

Glenn Ahrens: (302) 761-3286

Glenn@ElShaddaiChristian.com

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Misinterpreting Good Intentions - El Shaddai Christian Ministries

Misinterpreting Good Intentions

Satan just loves it whenever our good intentions are misunderstood by others… We could be the most godly person, with only good intentions, but in today’s society we have a problem. News media and others are always looking for juicy gossip that will make a good story and a scandal or money if they write articles or a magazine. The better-known we are, whether as a pastor, a public speaker, or politician, the better the story is and the more money that can be made from it. Some of the tabloids pay very good money for a juicy photo or story. It is reported that some of these payments have gone into as much as millions of dollars. The problem here is that they do not care if it destroys a perfectly honorable person, all they care about is that they can make more money than they’ll have to pay in slander lawsuits thereby making it a profitable article and ok to write.

Dr. Bill Bright, founder of Campus Crusade for Christ, recounted an episode that had happened where a member found themselves in a very difficult situation. The member was a married staff member, very devoted to the ministry and his wife. After a meeting one of the women needed a ride home to which the member said that he would do so having only the best and noblest intentions of helping out a fellow Christian. On the ride to her house they were spotted by somebody who took it to the media. This resulted not only in a scandal to that members life but some very uncomfortable times at home. The lesson here is that we must never place ourselves in a position that can be misunderstood even if we are not Christians. In this incidence the member should’ve taken somebody else for church along with them. Outside of the church the third person should be somebody that we know and trust because, unfortunately, there are those that would take a friend to set us up as a witness on their side.

The Bible says that faith that doesn’t change your lifestyle is not true faith at all. Having good intentions is procrastinating. Commit to the Lord instead of having one foot in and one foot out. You say, “Well, God knows my heart.” Good intentions are not good at all. They will lead you to hell. When you’re in front of God you can’t say “Well, I was going to do that, but…” Excuses lead to hell. God cannot be fooled. Separate from anything that is bringing you down, repent of your sins, and trust in Christ alone. “The road to hell is paved with good intentions” – an alternative form is “Hell is full of good meanings, but heaven is full of good works”.

Proverbs 14:7-13 states:

5. A trustworthy witness will not lie, But a false witness utters lies. 6. A scoffer seeks wisdom and {finds} none, But knowledge is easy to one who has understanding. 7. Leave the presence of a fool, Or you will not discern words of knowledge. 8. The wisdom of the sensible is to understand his way, But the foolishness of fools is deceit. 9. Fools mock at sin, But among the upright there is good will. 10. The heart knows its own bitterness, And a stranger does not share its joy. 11. The house of the wicked will be destroyed, But the tent of the upright will flourish. 12. There is a way {which seems} right to a man, But its end is the way of death. 13. Even in laughter the heart may be in pain, And the end of joy may be grief.

Two noted quotes are:

“Most of the evil in this world is done by people with good intentions.”  T.S. Eliot
“Hell isn’t merely paved with good intentions; it’s walled and roofed with them. Yes, and furnished too.” Aldous Huxley

By just having good intentions what will that do? Christians are to be doers of the Word not just hearers. We are not to trust in our minds, but live by the Word of God. In the Bible we see times where good intentions lead to bad decisions and sin.

 

Good intentions lead to bad decisions. Here are some Bible verses about good intentions:

Luke 14:28-30 But don’t begin until you count the cost. For who would begin construction of a building without first calculating the cost to see if there is enough money to finish it? Otherwise, you might complete only the foundation before running out of money, and then everyone would laugh at you. They would say, ‘There’s the person who started that building and couldn’t afford to finish it!’ [We must be very cautious about what we sow and never plant unknown seeds as they could be thorns or deadly.]

 

Things might seem pure to us, but God knows our motives:

Proverbs 16:2 People may be pure in their own eyes, but the Lord examines their motives.

Proverbs 21:2 Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the Lord pondereth the hearts.

 

Good intentions lead to sin and disobeying the law.

Proverbs 6:30 Excuses might be found for a thief who steals because he is starving.

James 4:17 If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.

 

The road to hell is paved with good intentions.

Proverbs 14:12 There is a pathway that seems right to a man, but in the end it’s a road to death.

Matthew 7:13 Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many.

 

God is not mocked

2 Corinthians 5:10 For we must all stand before Christ to be judged. We will each receive whatever we deserve for the good or evil we have done in this earthly body.

Galatians 6:7 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.

 

Reminders

James 1:22-23 But be sure you live out the message and do not merely listen to it and so deceive yourselves. For if someone merely listens to the message and does not live it out, he is like someone who gazes at his own face in a mirror. For he gazes at himself and then goes out and immediately forgets what sort of person he was.

1 Timothy 2:3,4 3 This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4. who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth…

 

https://biblereasons.com/good-intentions/#:~:text=The%20road%20to%20hell%20is%20paved%20with%20good,and%20those%20who%20enter%20by%20it%20are%20many.

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