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Proverbs 24:21

(21) My son, fear thou the LORD and the king: and meddle not with them that are given to change:
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This proverb could cover even those given to political change: revolutionaries. It contains a warning because the desire to change things, to make something more convenient, efficient, or better—to suit ourselves!—is always within us. However, its source is Satan and his desires for change. It comes from the world, and we bring it into the church. It does not point the finger at anybody in particular because this desire is in everyone. Thus, we must possess a measure of restraint to stick to what we have been given until or unless we find a good reason to make a change.

A few examples will expose a little bit of the mind of Godabout this desire to change. Answer this: "What kind of variety did the children of Israel in the wilderness receive from God in the way of food?" Very little. God cares little that we have a variety of things to eat. Why? Because stability is more important to Him than variety. Manna, of course, represents something far greater. Jesus compared it to eating the Word of God. He said, "I am the true manna that came from heaven" (see John 6:32-35, 48-51, 58).

What, then, are we supposed to eat intellectually? What does God want us to feed our minds? Many of us like a tremendous amount of variety: novels, television shows, movies, endless entertainments, sports, social media, etc. That variety is influencing us constantly, filling our minds with what is little more than a lot of junk food that fails to build spiritual health. Do we grasp the principle?

The same principle is at work in other areas as well. For instance, the only thing that keeps American capitalism working is constant change. Companies must continuously produce new things to spur the public to buy, to spend money. So, they keep changing the shape of automobiles, clothing fashions, food pairings, color preferences, and just about everything else. The typical person is convinced that because Detroit put a piece of chrome here and another there, the new year's model is tremendously better than last year's.

Hair styles change. Facial hair is acceptible one year but not the next. Neckties go wide then thin. Pants have pleats in them, then they have flat fronts, and similar changes occur on cuffs and collars. Hats are in then hats are out. You name it—everything just keeps changing. Every change produces a little bit of instability, a little bit of doubt, a little bit of insecurity, and because this principle is working in us, we feel the need to follow the changes to feel accepted in society.

We have become ignorant victims of this devilish system. God's pattern, however, is consistent: "I am the LORD, I do not change" (Malachi 3:6). "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever" (Hebrews 13:8). The most stable Being in all of the universe does not change.

Conversely, we change daily, it seems, and we have a long, long way to go to become consistent. This sort of restlessness and instability led to the changes we experienced doctrinally within the church a few decades ago. Change always produces instability, which is why Solomon gives his warning: "Don't associate with those who are given to change."

— John W. Ritenbaugh

To learn more, see:
Unity (Part 5): Ephesians 4 (B)