“If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself” (John 7:17).
Jesus said these words in the context of certain ones who sought to kill him (cf. John 7:1, 19). The Jewish leadership considered Jesus a threat. This hindered them from understanding the source and content of the teaching that Jesus gave. Those who believed that Jesus is the Christ (cf. John 6:68-69) had the “want to” to listen and learn. Therefore, having the “want to” has everything to do with understanding the doctrine of the Lord. Consider three thoughts about this mentality.
1. Wanting to Discern Between Truth and Error. Solomon wrote, “Whoso loveth instruction loveth knowledge: but he that hateth reproof is brutish” (Prov. 12:1). Again, “A scorner seeketh wisdom, and findeth it not: but knowledge is easy unto him that understandeth” (Prov. 14:6). Much of knowing and understanding is in the “want to.” If one wants to know the truth, then the simplicity of the word of God will make him “wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus” (2 Tim. 3:15). If one does not want the truth but only that which suits his own desires, then the word of God is “no good concerning me, but evil” (1 Kings 22:18). The kind of heart one has is a major factor in the obtaining of wisdom and knowledge.
2. Wanting to Defeat the Devil in One’s Life. Once a person has the desire to know the truth, then he can do battle with his real enemy, the devil. It is the putting on of the whole armor of God that “ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil” (Eph. 6:11) that bring success against Satan. When a child of God fails and gives into sin, God says to his children, “Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works” (Rev. 2:5). The Father does not want his children to have a defeatist attitude. James wrote, “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you” (James 4:7-8). When a person wants to overcome, victory is attainable. When one is not really willing to try that hard to overcome, then discouragement and struggle persist. One must always remember that when it comes to the real problems of life “we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places” (Eph. 6:12).
3. Wanting to Do What Pleases God. Jesus stated of the mentality of his mind toward the will of God, “My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work” (John 4:34). When an athlete really wants to please the coach, what kind of eyes and ears are present? When an employee is truly desiring to please the employer, what level of work will be given? Knowing that God loves (cf. 1 John 4:10) and desires the best for each and every one (cf. 1 Tim. 2:4) should motivate all to want to please the One from which comes “Every good gift and every perfect gift” (James 1:17). David wrote of himself, “I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word” (Ps. 119:16). Again, “Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart” (Ps. 119:34). Such a “want to” clearly shows why David is described by God as “a man after mine own heart” (Acts 13:22). May all have the “want to” in every spiritual thing and find the reward therein.
Jimmy Clark