Topical Encyclopedia Self-will, defined as the obstinate adherence to one's own desires and inclinations, often stands in opposition to the will of God. It is a trait that can lead individuals away from divine guidance and into paths of disobedience and rebellion. The Bible provides numerous warnings against self-will, emphasizing the importance of submission to God's will and the dangers of following one's own path.Biblical Warnings Against Self-Will 1. Proverbs 14:12 · "There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death." This verse highlights the deceptive nature of self-will, where personal judgment, apart from divine wisdom, can lead to destructive outcomes. 2. Isaiah 53:6 · "We all like sheep have gone astray, each one has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid upon Him the iniquity of us all." Here, the prophet Isaiah underscores the universal tendency of humanity to pursue self-will, which necessitated the redemptive sacrifice of Christ. 3. James 4:13-15 · "Come now, you who say, 'Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business, and make a profit.' You do not even know what will happen tomorrow! What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, 'If the Lord is willing, we will live and do this or that.'" James admonishes believers to recognize the sovereignty of God over their plans, warning against the presumption of self-will. Examples of Self-Will in Scripture 1. King Saul · In 1 Samuel 15, King Saul disobeys God's command to completely destroy the Amalekites and their possessions. Instead, he spares King Agag and the best of the livestock. Saul's self-will leads to his rejection as king, as Samuel declares, "For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance like the wickedness of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, He has rejected you as king" (1 Samuel 15:23). 2. Jonah · The prophet Jonah initially resists God's command to go to Nineveh, choosing instead to flee to Tarshish. His self-will results in a perilous journey and a dramatic encounter with a great fish. Jonah's account illustrates the futility of resisting God's will and the mercy available upon repentance. The Role of Servants in Warning Against Self-Will Servants of God, including pastors, teachers, and leaders, bear the responsibility of warning the people against the dangers of self-will. They are called to guide believers toward a life of submission to God's will, emphasizing the blessings of obedience and the perils of self-reliance. 1. Ezekiel 3:17-19 · "Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel. Whenever you hear a word from My mouth, give them a warning from Me. If I say to the wicked, ‘You will surely die,’ but you do not warn him or speak out to warn him from his wicked way to save his life, that wicked man will die in his iniquity, and I will hold you responsible for his blood. But if you warn the wicked and he does not turn from his wickedness and his wicked way, he will die in his iniquity, but you will have saved yourself." This passage underscores the duty of God's servants to warn against self-will and its consequences. 2. 2 Timothy 4:2 · "Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke, and encourage with great patience and careful instruction." Paul exhorts Timothy to be diligent in teaching and correcting, guiding believers away from self-will and toward a life aligned with God's purposes. In summary, self-will is a significant spiritual danger that can lead individuals away from God's path. The Bible provides clear warnings and examples of the consequences of self-will, and it is the duty of God's servants to faithfully warn and instruct the people to seek God's will above their own. Nave's Topical Index Hebrews 3:7-12Why (as the Holy Ghost said, To day if you will hear his voice, Nave's Topical Index Library The Master Rejected: the Servants Sent Forth Apollos at Corinth Hell on Earth C??sarius of Arles. Twenty-Seven Articles Respecting the Reformation of the Christian ... The Turning Point Introductory Notice Respecting Tauler's Life and Times Prov. 22:06 the Duties of Parents The Peculiar Sleep of the Beloved The Pilgrim's Progress Resources What is self-actualization? | GotQuestions.orgWhat does the Bible say about being self-conscious? | GotQuestions.org How should a Christian view self-esteem? | GotQuestions.org Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus Subtopics Self-Will and Stubbornness: Characteristic of the Wicked Self-Will and Stubbornness: David Self-Will and Stubbornness: Exhibited in Going Backward and not Forward Self-Will and Stubbornness: Exhibited in Hardening the Heart Self-Will and Stubbornness: Exhibited in Hardening the Neck Self-Will and Stubbornness: Exhibited in Rebelling Against God Self-Will and Stubbornness: Exhibited in Refusing to Hearken to God Self-Will and Stubbornness: Exhibited in Refusing to Hearken to Parents Self-Will and Stubbornness: Exhibited in Refusing to Hearken to the Messengers of God Self-Will and Stubbornness: Exhibited in Refusing to Receive Correction Self-Will and Stubbornness: Exhibited in Refusing to Walk in the Ways of God Self-Will and Stubbornness: Exhibited in Resisting the Holy Spirit Self-Will and Stubbornness: Exhibited in Walking in the Counsels of an Evil Heart Self-Will and Stubbornness: Forbidden Self-Will and Stubbornness: God Knows Self-Will and Stubbornness: Heinousness of Self-Will and Stubbornness: Illustrated Self-Will and Stubbornness: Israelites Self-Will and Stubbornness: Josiah Self-Will and Stubbornness: Ministers should be Without Self-Will and Stubbornness: Ministers should Pray That Their People May be Forgiven For Self-Will and Stubbornness: Ministers should Warn Their People Against Self-Will and Stubbornness: Proceed From: An Evil Heart Self-Will and Stubbornness: Proceed From: Pride Self-Will and Stubbornness: Proceed From: Unbelief Self-Will and Stubbornness: Punishment For Self-Will and Stubbornness: Saul Self-Will and Stubbornness: Simeon and Levi Self-Will and Stubbornness: The Wicked Cease not From Self-Will and Stubbornness: Zedekiah Self-Will: Characteristic of Wicked People Self-Will: Exhibited in Going Backward and not Forward Self-Will: Exhibited in Hardening the Heart Self-Will: Exhibited in Hardening the Neck (Metaphorically) Self-Will: Exhibited in Heinousness of Self-Will: Exhibited in Rebelling Against God Self-Will: Exhibited in Refusing to Listen to (Obey) Parents Self-Will: Exhibited in Refusing to Listen to God Self-Will: Exhibited in Refusing to Listen to the Messengers of God Self-Will: Exhibited in Refusing to Receive Correction Self-Will: Exhibited in Refusing to Walk in the Ways of God Self-Will: Exhibited in Resisting the Holy Spirit Self-Will: Exhibited in Walking in the Counsels of an Evil Heart Self-Will: Proceeds From: An Evil Heart Self-Will: Proceeds From: Pride Self-Will: Proceeds From: Unbelief Self-Will: Servants should be Without Self-Will: Servants should Pray That the People May be Forgiven For Self-Will: Servants should Warn the People Against Self-Will: The Wicked do not Cease From Related Terms |
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