In the world, the end justifies the means but in the Lord, the means justifies the end. God is much more interested in how you do it than what you did.
What you did may be applauded by the world but before the Lord, it may be monstrous if you did not achieve the end through His means.
No wonder, God constantly warned Moses to ensure that the ark was built according to the pattern shown to him on the mount. “And see to it that you make them according to the pattern which was shown you on the mountain” (Exodus 25:40 NKJV).
While we are preoccupied with getting results, God is looking at how we are doing it. He asked us to “see to” the means or the method we are using.
It is not just about building the ark; it is about ensuring that it was built according to the pattern. There is a way God wanted it done. It does not matter how excellent it may look from the perspective of men, it is abominable before God if it is not done the way God wants it.
It is this issue of means that denied Moses entry into the Promised Land. Yes, the people drank the miracle water but God was not pleased. While people celebrated, God was hurt (Numbers 20:1-13).
Perhaps, Moses thought he could always use the same means to solve similar problems. Since it was striking the rock that brought out water in Exodus 17, why should this be different.
Moses’s experience teaches us that God has different means to address similar challenges. We must learn to listen each time we have a case at hand.
But why would God honour Moses in bringing water out of the rock when he was using the wrong method?
Obviously, God would not want His people remain thirsty. He had to bring out the water for his people though His servant had failed. It could be that your success was because of the people who are dependent or connected to you; your method is faulty.
David later realized that it was not just about carrying the ark; it was about carrying the ark according to the due order. He went for a retreat after the death of Uzzah who wanted to prevent the ark from falling off the cart. It was there he discovered that “the Lord our God broke out against us, because we did not consult Him about the proper order” (1 Chronicles 15:13 NKJV).
The Levites had the responsibility of carrying the ark on their soldiers, not a cart.
“So the priests and the Levites sanctified themselves to bring up the ark of the Lord God of Israel. And the children of the Levites bore the ark of God on their shoulders, by its poles, as Moses had commanded according to the word of the Lord.”
David was obviously excited about bringing up the ark without asking how to do it. While it is not bad to be excited about doing things for God, we must be cautious to ask Him how He wants it done.
This is why knowing God is more important than serving God. Only those who know Him can serve Him acceptably. When we serve Him without taking time to know Him, we will be like the Martha who was busy cooking the food He will not eat.
Whatsoever we do should be an overflow of our love for Him, not out of compulsion or a kind of venison to get His favour. Only those who know Him are strong and do exploits for Him.
Our leaders should stop recruiting people into God’s service who have no track record of a walk with God.
Ministry is the means and the method, not necessarily the monuments we are building. Ministry is not measured in the quantity of what is done but in its quality. We attain that quality by doing it according to the pattern God is giving to us.
Most of what we do in the ministry is the same, what differentiates us is the means. It is the pattern that God has given you that gives you your own uniqueness. When you miss the pattern, your ministry is lost.
We must get to His heart not just to know what He wants done but how He wants it done.
Next time God asks you to do a thing, ask Him how, because it is the means that actually justifies the end when it comes to God’s work.
