Navigating the Thin Line: True Obedience vs. Sycophancy
In today's modern world, it is easy to become confused between genuine devotion and mere outward submission. The essence of true obedience lies in deep faith and love for the commandments, where every action is driven by a sincere desire for spiritual transformation. Unlike a mechanical execution of rules, genuine obedience emerges from inner renewal and the longing to strengthen the connection with the One who gave the commandments.The core idea is that when a person acts with all the strength of their heart, their behavior becomes a reflection of inner harmony and genuine love. However, if obedience turns into a tool merely to please others or conceal one’s true intentions, it loses its spiritual depth. Thus, the difference lies in the intentions: when the soul is filled with sincerity, observing the commandments becomes a guiding thread to attaining inner peace and unity with God. But when behavior becomes just an external ritual, it may hide personal passions that distort the true essence of humility.The concept of true obedience helps every soul realize that spiritual growth and the deepening of one’s relationship with the Higher require sincerity—not just following rules. May each of us strive to let go of empty formalities and open our hearts to the true values that can transform our inner lives and bring about a profound unity with the world and with God.
Where is the boundary between sincere obedience and sycophancy?The boundary between sincere obedience and sycophancy lies where genuine obedience is born out of deep inner faith and love for the commandments, rather than merely following demands or seeking approval. Sincere obedience is associated with keeping the commandments and remaining united with the One who gave them, whereas sycophancy may hide true personal biases and even misguided passions behind an appearance of submission.For instance, one of the authors notes: "Under the guise of obedience, various passions may hide, even lustful desire. In general – everything boundless, not seasoned by the spirit of true humility and godliness, will inevitably be defiled by some impurity and subjected to the ridicule of demons." (source: link txt)Another author clearly distinguishes the two approaches: "Just as disobedience is associated with sin, so is obedience a virtue. Disobedience leads to the violation of the commandments and separation from the Giver of those commandments, while obedience leads to the preservation of the commandments and to an unbreakable unity of love with the One who gave the commandment. And whoever breaks a commandment out of disobedience not only commits a sin, but also deprives themselves of the communion of love with the Giver." (source: link txt)From these quotes, it is evident that sincere obedience is defined by inner renewal and a deep acceptance of God's commandments, whereas if obedience serves merely as a façade to cover personal passions, it turns into sycophancy. Thus, the main boundary is drawn through the sincerity of one's intentions: true obedience is aimed at transforming the inner life and perfecting one’s relationship with God, while sycophancy lacks this inner depth and may mask personal shortcomings or selfish ambitions.