Careful Quote by Timothy Keller
“Neither son loved the father for himself. They both were using the father for their own self-centered ends rather than loving, enjoying, and serving him for his own sake. This means that you can rebel against God and be alienated from him either by breaking his rules or by keeping all of them diligently. It's a shocking message: Careful obedience to God's law may serve as a strategy for rebelling against God.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Prodigal God by Timothy Keller, 2008
Loving God for who He is, not for personal gain, can be subverted by both overt rebellion and meticulous rule‑keeping, turning obedience into a hidden rebellion.
In simple terms: Obedience can hide selfish motives.
Key Takeaway
Examine motives behind your devotion.
Themes
religion
selfishness
obedience
rebellion
Mood
reflective
serious
Type
theological
philosophical
critical
When to use this quote
- personal prayer
- church leadership
- family relationships
- ethical decision‑making
Key Concepts
theology
psychology
ethics
Questions to Reflect On
- What drives your obedience?
- Do you love God for Himself?
A Different Perspective
Blind obedience may still distance you from genuine relationship with God.
![“24 A few pages later, Delbanco writes the following: [Alexis de] Tocqueville’s detection of a “strange melancholy in the midst of abundance” has a special salience today — because while we have gotten very good at deconstructing old stories (the religion that was the subject of my first chapter…” quote by Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/85a/timothy-keller-240_sad_24-a-few-pages-later-delbanco-writes-the_25320.jpg)
![“[A]s you partake of the world's bill of fare, that's darned good advice to follow. Do a lot of spitting out the hot air. And be careful what you swallow.” quote by Dr. Seuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/da8/dr-seuss-1224_advice_a-s-you-partake-of-the-world-s-bill-of-f_6806.jpg)
