When the Ends Justify the Means
I cannot count the number of
times I have cautioned people to check their motives. Why do you do what you
do? The “ends justifying the means” usually involves doing something questionable
to achieve a positive outcome. Those who justify wrongdoing by pointing to the positive
good believe in situational ethics. Societal norms continue
shifting further away from holiness and godliness; thus, societies are drifting
far from the Creator and His intended purposes and will.
People often say you don’t question results, but God always
questions them. Human beings may not be bothered by how results are achieved,
but God cares. He objects to the methods when the processes fail to uphold
biblical principles.
God’s attributes are many but summarized as holy, just, and
good. In turn, His followers are called to be holy in our conduct, thus reflecting
His true character. Peter offers the world God’s true standard. “But as he
which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;
Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy” (1 Peter 1:15-16). The Bible
commands Christians to be holy because our Maker and Redeemer is holy.
We can rationalize any action with a strong enough
motivation. God doesn’t just want us to make “good” decisions in a vacuum. He
wants us to be led by Him as we make those decisions. When we are not actively
seeking His counsel, terrible choices will follow. Society’s greatest “genius”
sometimes revolves around justifying bad behavior.
The ends don’t justify the means when we rely on anything other
than God for our victories. A case in point: King Asa. This king displayed fantastic
leadership skills by saving his people from the enemy. By anyone’s standard
other than God’s, Asa did an excellent thing, but the ends do not justify the
means. Here is a synopsis of the story:
When King Baasha of Israel, a neighbour, came against
Judah, Asa entered into a military alliance with Syria. Syria was a military
power, so a military alliance seemed wise and prudent, but not to God (2
Chronicles 16:2-6). God disapproved of his method. Although the treaty
worked and Syria successfully helped Judah against Israel, God pointed out
that Asa had done foolishly. The rest of his reign would find no time of peace
because he had acted foolishly.
“For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the
whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is
perfect toward him. Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore from henceforth
thou shalt have wars” (2 Chronicles 16:9).
Asa used Benhadad, king of Syria, in place of God’s
protection. Early in his reign, he had trusted God against the army of
Zerah, the Ethiopian. Statistically, Judah was no match for the Ethiopians. The
Ethiopians came against Judah with an army of one million men and three hundred
chariots (2 Chronicles 14:8-15). Yet, Asa’s army of 580,000 men routed an army almost
twice their size. Why? Because that time, Asa trusted God and cried to Him,
knowing that it is within God’s power to help those with no power.
The Ethiopians were superior. King Asa of Judah admitted as
much. He trusted God and went in His name against the Ethiopians, a superior
army. God won the battle against the Ethiopians; the powerful fled before the
weak, and the weak pursued the powerful. God gave the victory to Judah.
