Matthew 12:30 He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters.
Matthew 12:33 Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit.
Both of the above Scripture verses were spoken by Jesus to the Pharisees after he healed a man who had been demon-possessed.
The first verse reminds me that anyone not actively seeking God's will is against Him and actually works against His purposes. Even if that is not their intention. Good intentions won't save you, though. Remember in King David's time when a man reached out to steady the ark of God?
2 Samuel 6:6-7 When they came to the threshing floor of Nacon, Uzzah reached out and took hold of the ark of God, because the oxen stumbled. The LORD's anger burned against Uzzah because of his irreverent act; therefore God struck him down and he died there beside the ark of God.
Okay, I have to admit that I struggle with this one sometimes. Uzzah was only doing what he thought was right and trying to keep the ark from falling. He had no ill intentions - that we know of, at least. The thing is, though - he was outside of God's will. They all were. They had not followed God's instructions for moving and handling the ark of God.
From the Gideon study by Priscilla Shirer (2013), she writes that "[Our] good intentions [aren't] enough to neutralize the consequences of [our] disobedience and disrespect for God's divine order" (p. 173). Also, "Good intentions are not enough - not enough to honor God, not enough to sustain your spiritual growth, and not enough to keep your spiritual legacy intact for generations to come" (p. 173).
I'd like to add one to Priscilla's. Good intentions aren't enough to save you for eternity and get you into heaven. Good deeds won't do it. Yes, we are called to do good deeds, but this flows FROM our faith, which saves us. It is not the other way around. We are not saved by our good intentions or deeds.
As for the second verse above, I'd just like you to consider how you are being recognized. Is the fruit produced in your life good or bad? In God's eyes, not just your own. Not in the eyes of your peers. Not in the eyes of your community, nation, cultural group, etc. In the eyes of God alone. On the last day, what will Jesus see when you stand before Him and the throne of God - when you'll have to give an account?
