I believe that this question will bring a resounding yes from most of you. In other words, when you are obedient, is that enough to bring a blessing on to others? Truly, obedience is not just singular, but a witness of what it has done to shape our life. Therefore, others will be impacted, and yet all we have done is to act in accordance with God’s Word.
When someone does not know God they can still function in a godly manner because they understand social mores. We know that their good deeds will impact others, but they can only take them so far without Jesus. They may have been brought up in a home that reflects God, without actually knowing God. These individuals may be using a standard of right and wrong as their moral compass, but once again, this is surface understanding without the saving grace of Jesus.
Many people will tell you that they do things that they saw their parents do. If they had parents that cared about their neighbors, were sympathetic to the causes of the needy, and even gave of their resources to those in want, then they likely will use this excellent example to shape their own lives. They will seek to be obedient when they are aware of a cause that deserves attention. After all, they are good and are acting out of what they believe is a good heart.
Last year I met such a man while I was traveling to see family in New York. He was quick to say that he was a good person, that he believed in God, but then he was equally as quick to condemn the homeless man on the sidewalk as being someone who did not deserve to live. This unwelcome conversation occurred when the man saw how my husband treated the homeless man with kindness. He felt it was his duty to warn us of our misguided behavior.
It is so interesting to reflect on that encounter. We were acting in accordance with God’s Word to love one another, so the man on the sidewalk was directly impacted by our obedience to God, but the other individual was impacted by our obedience, too. He was forced to examine his own life, his goodness, his belief in God, all because we choose to be obedient that day. I can only pray that he was convicted and has since seen the love of God in his own life. We know that you can’t love people well if you don’t first love God.
Luke 10:25-28 And behold, a lawyer stood up to put Him to the test saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?” And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all our mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” And He said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.”