Robert asked in an email: “In your Blog on 5/19/23, you said Ishmael wasn’t acting out of faith towards Isaac. Do you mean he was acting in unbelief?”

I like that question. A lot.

It is possible to act in a manner inconsistent with what we believe. That is not the same as acting in unbelief.

See James 2:15-16. The believer there believed it was best for him to love those in his church. But he didn’t act upon this belief when given the opportunity. He is an example of faith without works (Jas 2:14, 17, 20, 26).

Let’s say you know it is best for you and your family if you love your spouse. Yet when faced with a challenging situation, you strike out in anger, fear, and frustration. Your actions didn’t come from unbelief; they came from a failure to apply what you believe. Some call that failing “to walk by faith” (the faith walk).

Acting in unbelief is something else entirely. Let’s say I don’t believe that it is more blessed to give than to receive. As a result, I don’t give money to any church or charity. I don’t give money to needy loved ones or friends. I do not give up my time, either. I spend all my waking hours trying to lay up more treasure on Earth. That is acting in unbelief.

As believers, we sometimes fail to apply what we believe. That is one type of unprofitable behavior.

We also sometimes act out of unbelief. We are naïve if we think we believe everything God has revealed in His Word. We aren’t even aware of all that He has revealed.

I’ve met believers who do not believe–and therefore act in accordance with their unbelief–the following:

• Women should not teach men in the worship service.
• Women should not be elders in the local church.
• People of the same sex should not engage in sexual relations.
• Heterosexuals should not have sex outside marriage.
• Wives should submit to their husbands.
• We should render unto Caesar what is Caesar’s.
• We should give as God prospers us (not some set percentage).
• We should always share the promise of everlasting life when we evangelize.
• We should watch daily for the Lord’s soon return.
• We should set our hearts on heavenly treasure.

First, apply what you believe.

Second, attend a solid Bible-teaching church so that you learn to believe more of what God says. Then apply that as well.

Thanks for the challenging question, Robert.