Obedience is My Job, Outcome is His (OIMJOIH) (Proverbs 21:31)
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Proverbs 21:31
The horse is made ready for the day of battle,
but the victory belongs to the Lord.
OIMJOIH! Obedience is my job, outcome is His. OIMJOIH. That’s the message from this verse.
So often we are overly focused on results. And that makes sense. Our world is obsessed with outcomes. But Proverbs 21:31 makes it clear: outcome isn’t your job. It’s not in your control. You say, “Yes it is.” No, it’s not. That’s a lie. “Victory belongs to the Lord,” not to you. And when you win, I promise you it's not because of you. Paul says, “What do you have that you did not receive?” From gifts to victories, it’s all from the Lord. From the battlefield to your boardroom, your classroom, even your living room, victory belongs to God.
Outcome isn’t your job. Obedience is.
It’s our job to prepare. For exams, interviews, presentations, you name it. It’s our job to prepare. It’s God’s to deliver. The outcomes are in His hand.
And you know what? That is so freeing. In a world where so many are chained to their results, we don’t have to be. It reminds me of world #1 golfer Scottie Scheffler, who is also a strong Christian. I know he has made many other golfers irate over the fact that he’s not living to win. Of course, he wants to win, and he’s preparing his best for that, but his victory has been secured on the cross. Christ’s victory is his, and he is free to perform.
He’s received the verdict of free before he’s performed, while I think many in our world feel the need to perform in order to receive the verdict of successful, loved, important. Not the Christian. He’s received his verdict from Christ’s death on the cross, and he doesn’t need to perform for it. Nothing the Christian can do could make God love him any more or less.
Prepare your horse for whatever is coming your way – with work, relationships, school. Prepare your steed, and leave the results to God.
Now, I think this verse also shows us that we ought to use the means of preparation but not idolize it. It might be easy to walk away from a verse like this and become sinfully wrapped up in preparation. Don’t put your trust in how well prepared you are, because those who lean on that staff will fall. Straight up. Like I said, victory doesn’t rest with you. But the beautiful thing is, for those in Christ, the victory is already won. Why lean on your own staff when you can lean on the staff of Christ? With Him you are fighting a war you cannot lose!
OIMJOIH! Obedience is my job, outcome is His.
Ask yourself today:
Where in my life am I overly focused on results rather than obedience?
What would it look like for me to prepare faithfully today, and leave the outcome to God?
Before we pray, let me remind you again of the ultimate victory Jesus won for you on the cross. Because of His death and resurrection, you are free to obey without fear, knowing that the biggest battle has already been won.
That means because of the cross, we don’t fight for victory – we fight from victory.
So be bold today. Obey with courage. And trust Him for the outcome, in whatever battle you might be facing.
