Psalm 32:9: “Do not be like an unintelligent horse or mule, which will not obey you unless they are controlled by a bridle and bit.”

This verse is saying there are people who can only be motivated with threats. The call is: do not be like that. Do not be people for whom only “hellfire” or fear is what will move you to do the right thing. If someone preaches to you that you are saved through Jesus Christ and not by your own works, and your reaction is to let loose and go rogue, then you are acting like that unintelligent horse or mule.

“Which will not obey you unless they are controlled by a bridle and bit.” In other words, you will not do the right thing unless you are threatened: “If you do not give this big offering, God will not work in your life… this is your door to the next level… if you do not do this, something bad will happen to you.” If there is no threat, there is no obedience.

But how has threat‑based motivation worked? Look at what God did under the law. The law was full of warnings: “If you obey, blessing; if you disobey, curse. If you turn away, you will go into captivity, you will be disgraced, you will be enslaved, all kinds of bad things will happen” (see Deuteronomy 28). Yet Israel still did the very things they were told not to do.

In a way, we see that threat can be counter‑productive. With constant threatening, people can become desensitized. The repeated threat can dull its impact. The outcome you are trying to achieve, you can end up achieving the opposite. What you think is your good intention—“I want to get people to obey”—ends up failing.

Paul gives us an insight. He says the law has punishment attached to it, but the law actually stirred up sin: “I would not have known sin except through the law… but sin, seizing the opportunity through the commandment, produced in me all kinds of wrong desires” (Romans 7:7–8). The law made sin come alive within him.

So, “Do not be like an unintelligent horse or mule, which will not obey you unless they are controlled by a bridle and bit.” I am saying: do not be like that. I am also saying: do not treat people like that either.

Using the example of the law, the evidence is so clear: law, with its curses and judgments, is not enough to produce the life God desires. What is enough? The new creation. God the Holy Spirit has to come into our hearts. We have to be motivated by Christ, not by threats.

When you look at Paul’s persuasion, again and again his appeal is: “Be like Christ. Imitate me, as I imitate Christ. Walk in love, just as Christ loved us.” He motivates by pointing to Christ, not by constantly threatening. That is the language of the new creation. The new man is created “to be like God in righteousness and holiness of the truth” (Ephesians 4:24). The persuasion language for Christians is: be like Christ—not “do this or else.”

For the horse and mule, if they do not move in the desired direction, they feel pain. They learn, “Pain in this direction means I must do that.” God says, “Do not be like that.” He does not want to treat you like an animal.

Paul says the law, rather than achieving its noble objective, ended up provoking sin. So do not be unintelligent. And do not treat Christians as if they are unintelligent, assuming they will never act unless you threaten them with fire and doom.

That is not the right way.

God bless you. See you later.