WHY GOD TESTS HIS LEADERS

When our daughter Kara was four-years old, I asked her to pray for me. I told her that God was growing my faith by giving me an obedience test. There was a ministry task that I simply did not want to do. So Kara and I prayed together. God helped me, through Word and prayer, submit to his will. I faithfully completed the ministry task. I told Kara that I passed the test. She wrote me this note, phonetically spelling out “Today, you passed the test. Awesome!”

Do you know that God tests us? Do you know why God tests us?

God is playing chess, but far too often we play checkers. He sees in decades, but far too often we see in days (sometimes in hours and minutes). Because God develops us over the course of a  lifetime, in his sovereign love, he gives us designed experiences. Positive responses to these process items bring growth to our faith. One process item, especially common in the 20s decade, is obedience testing.

I know some of us might initially feel uncomfortable with the idea that God tests us. I once heard a young man object claim this was works theology. But grace is never opposed to effort (1 Corinthians 15:10). Grace is always opposed to earning (Matthew 9:12). Then why does God test us? The Father tests us to prove, and improve, our faith. Below is a table summary of the obedience testing pattern.

JONAH, PHILIP & THE OBEDIENCE TESTING PATTERN

In the Old Testament, Jonah is a great example of the obedience testing pattern. God gave him the real world test of being called to minister God’s grace to a people, the Ninevites, he hated (Jonah 1:2). Many other prophets were called by God to preach against other countries. But Jonah is the only prophet who is called to physically go and minister on enemy soil. God proves persistent to correct Jonah’s hate-filled and racist heart. Obviously, Jonah did not pass his first test. So God gave him private tutoring through a storm that threatened his life and a dramatic rescue into the belly of the whale (Jonah 1:17). This is called intensive training. Jonah softens his heart and submits to God. The authors teaches us Jonah is given the same test at a later date: “Go to Nineveh, the great city, and preach to it the message that I tell you” (Jonah 3:2). After the personal training, Jonah passes. His preaching brings national repentance and revival to Nineveh.

In the New Testament, Philip is tested by Jesus immediately before he feeds the hungry 5000. The Apostle John says that Jesus knew what he was going go to do, but to test Philip he asked him what he thought the ministry team should do. (John 6:6). Philip had already seen Jesus turn 180 gallons of stale and contaminated water into the best wine at a village wedding in Cana. He saw Jesus speak and grant mobility to a man who hadn’t walked in 38 years. But Philip could only focus on the material and the natural, and said with sarcasm, “Jesus, we could spend $30,000 on Subway sandwiches and the crowd would still be hungry.” Philip failed his test. But Jesus privately works with Philip to help him understand that there is enough bread for the whole world. Philip is given the same test when the Greeks wish to see Jesus (John 12:20-21). Philip responds in faith and passes his test. Through Philip’s faith, the gospel goes international and this is the sign to Jesus that the hour for his death has finally arrived.

God shapes his leaders through obedience testing. This was true for Jonah. This was true for Philip. And this is true for you and me. Being aware that God will test the truth that he has revealed to us is half the battle. We always fail the tests we do not know we are taking. The great news is that God is committed to our leadership development way more than we are. God is a faithful teacher. He will never promote a disciple who is not ready for the next level.

I end on a very somber note. God is far more patient than we can hope or imagine. But God has lines that we simply must never cross. If the private tutoring and intensive discipling results in continual failure to pass the obedience tests, things get really scary. We must remember Judas. He failed his obedience tests with the Lord’s ministry resources (John 12:6). He chose to be an enemy of God and betrayed the Lord Jesus (John 18:3). And we must never forget Ananias and Sapphira who lied to the Holy Spirit (Acts 5:5; 5:10). They did not finish well.

PERSONAL CAPSULE: JOHN TETER OBEDIENCE TESTING

Personal Analysis: "Lord, Not My Favorite Hoodie!"

Biblical Text: John 15:9

Designed Experience: Obedience Check

Development Category: Character

Age: 23 years old (1994)

Commentary: USC and UCLA are 13 miles from each other. The players on each football team grew up balling out each other. The animosity is real. The big game is for Los Angeles bragging rights. This past Saturday USC defeated UCLA on a cold, misty night at the Rose Bowl. And the game made me think of my favorite sweatshirt of all time. My thick, but cozy, embroidered, not pressed, perfectly fitting fall hoodie. 

I grew up in the suburbs of Los Angeles. I was never exposed to poverty. When I became a Christian, I quickly learned of God’s love for the poor and his command to join him in loving those on the margins. One late night in November, while pumping gas I met a homeless man who asked for help. He was cold. He was only wearing a t-shirt. His right elbow was so full of fluid, it looked like a softball somehow slipped under his skin. He was in bad shape and needed help. As I was buying him some food in the gas mart, I sensed the Holy Spirit Holy Spirit impress on me, “John, give him your sweatshirt.” I pretended that I didn’t feel it. But then, in a still-small voice, I heard the Spirit say, “John, give him your sweatshirt.”  Instead of giving him the sweatshirt, I asked him if he needed a ride. As we drove to his spot, I knew I was supposed to give him my sweatshirt. But I said to myself, “But this is my only sweatshirt with a hoodie.” My heart was hardening with each mile. As we pulled up to his destination, I heard God speak to me in a gentle but firm voice, “John, give him your sweatshirt.” I did not submit to God. I chose to disobey. And I let the man leave my car and walk, with his giant right elbow, into the cold night.

Over the next few months, God gave me private tutoring about the poor and my sweatshirt. I would open up my Bible and it would be about loving the poor. Random strangers would mention God’s love for the poor. My sweatshirt even felt different. God was training me to pass the test. Three months later, I met another homeless man. The circumstances were mirror images of my meeting the man with the fluid in his elbow. This time, my heart was soft for him. We ate a meal together. I heard his story. I learned he lost his wife and daughters in a car accident. I prayed for him. He was cold. I gave him my sweatshirt. It took me a while, but I passed my test.

The Obedience Test process item has cemented four leadership lessons in my life:

1. God will call the developing leader to obedience to teach us to submit to his will 

2. God will test the emerging leaders heart regarding money and restitution 

3. Faithfulness in finances early will help the leader be faithful when older

4. When we fail a test, God will graciously tutor us to pass the same test (future date)

May we learn to submit to God, pass our tests the first time, and avoid the often painful experience of private tutoring. When we pass our tests, God is on edge of his throne in heaven saying, “Osum! (Awesome)!”