There are groups or classes of people when it comes to the subject of living life according to God’s will. There are those who don’t care what God’s will is, they are going to do what they want, not what God wants. Most Christians are in that camp, though not because of an independent spirit or rebellion, but because of apathy, lukewarmness, indifference, being naive, complacency, and just being far from God because of worldliness. These people only think about God’s will when their lives start falling apart and they seem helpless to do anything about it. Then they want to know what God’s will is, and they want God to fix their life for them. This passage in Proverbs describes the boat these people are in, and what it will be like when it starts to sink.

Proverbs 1:24-33
“Because I called and you refused,
I stretched out my hand and no one paid attention;
And you neglected all my counsel
And did not want my reproof;
I will also laugh at your calamity;
I will mock when your dread comes,
When your dread comes like a storm
And your calamity comes like a whirlwind,
When distress and anguish come upon you.
“Then they will call on me, but I will not answer;
They will seek me diligently but they will not find me,
Because they hated knowledge
And did not choose the fear of the Lord.
“They would not accept my counsel,
They spurned all my reproof.
“So they shall eat of the fruit of their own way
And be satiated with their own devices.
“For the waywardness of the naive will kill them,
And the complacency of fools will destroy them.
“But he who listens to me shall live securely
And will be at ease from the dread of evil.”

I know what my wife wants because I am close to her. I know what makes her happy and pleases her because I know her. I know what will upset her, irritate her, and hurt her because of the intimacy of our relationship.

The way to know what God’s will is, is to know God, be close to Him. So many simply want to know what God’s will is because they assume that means a trouble-free life of comfort. They should probably read the book of Job.

The Bible repeats over and over the command and the blessings of seeking the Lord. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. How do you seek God? Attend church services faithfully. Listen attentively to the sermons, learn and repent. Read the Bible every day. Spend time in prayer privately and corporately. Be involved in some kind of ministry in your church. Give faithfully and sacrificial of your money. Examine your life humbly and confess all known sin to God. Be baptized and participate thoughtfully in Communion, and worship God with all of your heart corporately and privately, praise the Lord always and don’t grumble about anything. That list, though long, is not hard. If we truly love God and want to know Him intimately it will be easy.