Just Look At The Results
When the children of Israel murmured against Moses in the wilderness of Zin because they had not water, God told Moses to assemble the people and speak to the rock that it give forth its water. So far as the record, shows, Moses did not speak to the rock, but he struck it twice, and water came out — enough for well over a million people and their cattle. If results ever prove an act right, surely Moses must have done right, but God said no. There may be some question as to just what constituted Moses' sin on that occasion, but two things are certain: (1) what he did accomplished the purpose for which God had told him to speak to the rock, and (2) it displeased God — so much that he punished Moses by not allowing him to lead the people into the land of Canaan (Num. 20:2-13).
If Moses had done exactly what God had commanded him to do, there would, of course, have been no lack of water for the people and their cattle. In addition he would have pleased God and sanctified him in the eyes of the people.
May not this story be one of the things written for or admonition and serve to warn us that results obtained by our big cooperative projects are not proof that God is pleased with them? And does anybody know that the money spent on these projects, if used by the contributing churches on projects of their own in fields of their own choosing, would not Produce as good results?