Stopping Short of God’s Perfect Will
Numbers 33:55
“But if ye will not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you; then it shall come to pass, that those which ye let remain of them shall be pricks in your eyes, and thorns in your sides, and shall vex you in the land wherein ye dwell.”
When defining the will of God, you must understand that God has a will for many areas of your life. We put much emphasis on the will of God, and we should, but because so much emphasis is put upon God’s will, many have a false assumption that God has one perfect will for your life. Actually, there is a perfect will of God for every area of your life. There is a perfect will for your marriage, family, church membership, etc. In each of these areas it is important for you to find God’s perfect will and do it until the day you die.
In the verse above, God warned the children of Israel about stopping short of His perfect will. God’s perfect will was for them to completely drive out all the inhabitants of the land. God knew that the habit of the children of Israel was to stop short of His will. They stopped short of His will in the wilderness by not going into Canaan the first time. They stopped short of God’s perfect will when they gathered too much manna. Once again, God warned them that if they stopped short of His perfect will that they would suffer for that decision for the rest of their lives.
It is wonderful thing to find the perfect will of God for your life. Nothing will bring more happiness than finding God’s perfect will and doing it. There are many people who find God’s perfect will, but they don’t do it. Then there are some who find God’s perfect will, but they stop short of completing it. When you stop short of doing all of God’s perfect will, then you end up not obeying it. It doesn’t matter that you started doing God’s will, what matters is that you complete it to the extent that God wants. Stopping short of God’s perfect will is nothing less than disobedience.
Finding God’s perfect will in the area of marriage is wonderful. You can find that person whom God wants you to marry and marry them, but also God’s perfect will is for you to stay married until the day you die. God’s perfect will is for you to stay faithful to your spouse to the day of your death. Stopping short of any of these is as if you never did His perfect will at all. Don’t stop short of God’s perfect will for your marriage because of personal differences or another person. You’ve come this far, now complete God’s will for your marriage. If you’re having marital problems, then get help, but don’t stop short of God’s perfect will for your marriage.
Likewise, don’t stop short of God’s perfect will for your calling in life. If God called you to do something, then do it until the day you die. I have seen too many people start God’s calling for their life, and then quit during times of hardship. God’s perfect will for His calling on your life is to do it until you die. Just because greater financial opportunities arise doesn’t mean His will has changed. According to Romans 11:29, God’s calling doesn’t change. Do it until He calls you to Heaven.
Though we only discussed two areas of God’s perfect will, let me encourage you to not stop short of God’s perfect will in any area. Always remember that when you stop short of God’s perfect will, you are only asking to bring hardships upon your life. God’s perfect will may not be easy, but there is peace and personal satisfaction in doing it.