“It’s just not fair God! I do this for You and I have done such-and-such for You. I tithe. I go to the nursing home. I play/sing for You. And this is all the thanks I get?”
Been there, done that, sometimes still writing that song. Chances are good you have also. We have been conditioned almost all our lives to expect a blessing…especially because we are being obedient.
I believe one of the most insidious lies we have been taught and are still teaching is obedience merits blessing. We are taught from a very young age. Often my dad would leave for work leaving behind a list of things we were supposed to get done. Pull weeds. We had to use a kitchen knife and dig out the weeds by their roots. Hated it, hated it, hated it. Since I am not supposed to use the word “hate” then I will say “I despised it greatly.” Cut grass. Didn’t mind that but pulling weeds was part of that. Sweep and water the back porch (what for since flowers don’t grow on concrete?) Oh…I’m supposed to wipe it down. Clean our rooms. When we were done then, and only then, could we
GO PLAY BASEBALL!
GO TO OUR FRIEND’S HOUSE!
GO TO OUR FRIEND’S HOUSE TO PLAY BASEBALL!
Every once in a while, but not very, there was an allowance that was given.
OBEDIENCE. MERITS. BLESSING!
That never left me. It followed me into my Christian walk. If I want to receive God’s blessing, then I have to be obedient. No one ever told me that life was different and didn’t play by fair rules. Bad things happened…even to those who were obedient. Good Christian people died in car wrecks. Good Christian parents had deformed babies. Good servants of God had cancer. Those kinds of events are enough to make even the heartiest of Christ-followers to sit up and take note that life is not all peaches and cream.
I think we see this a lot in the religious world today. Bling, and more bling, is seen as evidence of God’s approval upon us. In the words of some immortal philosopher somewhere: HOGWASH! So many people who want to be followers of Jesus find themselves trapped in prisons of their own making because they just don’t seem to measure up. “How can God do this to me? I read my Bible. I go to church. I help out and volunteer.” And yet, ugly things still happen.
Truth is: God has never promised He would treat us all the same. Sometimes what happens to us doesn’t seem fair. It doesn’t to fit into our tight little box of “Fairness Cereal.” Speaking with someone recently, someone going through a tougher test than ever before, I said, “We do not see the big picture, but we trust the ONE who does.”
Obedience doesn’t always merit blessing. It does merit God’s pleasure though. And that is worth it. Any thoughts?
Regardless of what God is up to, being in the depths of despair or loss or pain, sucks hard. I think it was that hogwash guy who came up with this one too.
But more to your point, obedience doesn’t equal blessings … hmm, seems there is a well-coiffed pastor in Houston who would vehemently disagree with you. I smell cage match!
I refuse to mention a name on the grounds that it may incriminate me.
He will be down for the KO some day.
Ahhhhhhhhhh! You know I’ve been down that road, and rather recently.
I am gaining a new perspective, though. I’m going to disagree with you to an extent, Bill, and go out on a limb. I believe that obedience does bring a blessing. Not the one I may have been looking for, perhaps. Maybe not the tangible thing I wanted or hoped for. I tend to be focused on the “stuff” I think I need. Jesus is trying to teach me that I need that internal relationship with him more than I need any “stuff.” *sigh* I’m a slow learner, though.
You put your finger on it Susan. I do believe there is blessing in obedience, i.e. knowing we brought God pleasure, but not necessarily in the way we think it will come. Like you stated, we need to take our eyes off “stuff” as being the reward.
Nodding my head to this kind of blessing in obedience. There is a peace that comes along with obeying and our relationship with Him is deepened too. Thanks and God bless you, Bill!
I think it does say “Ask and you will receive” and “knock and the door will be open”. So what’s up with asking and not receiving and knocking and the door doesn’t open. Something is not on the up and up.
I do think you raise an issue that many Christ-followers have raised for years. But I also think (and this is just me), that we do receive and the door is opened, but maybe not in the way we want. Or in the amount of time we want.
Last post I commented last and now I get to be first. I am sure this blessing came because I was good today…only kidding brother.
This is my anology on this subject:
My obedience has been a progression. At first I obeyed because of fear. The same kind of fear little kids have of their Dad’s. They obey because they don’t want a spanking. Then I grew a little and obeyed because I did not want God to take my privleges away. A teenager obeys so they will not lose their privliges. As I matured a little more in my understanding of the Lord, I knew if I did disobey it would not seperate me from the love of God. That knowledge made me want to obey because I loved the way He loved me. If we do not grow in that understaning of obedience we will forever stay a child and yell, “it’s not fair”.
Blessings are wonderful but God’s pleasure is better. That is a keeper phrase. Good post.
Well said Betty. Your analysis of obedience and why is good. Glad you like the phrase.
If obedience merits blessing….than my wife must be extremely disobedient. In spite of the book “Your Best Life Now”…for the Christian….this life is the worse it will get.
Totally agree Ike. Have been wondering how Carol is doing. Glad this life is not all there is because in many ways it stinks.
I’m glad He isn’t fair. If He was, I would be in some serious trouble.
Amen to that!
Seconding the Amen!
Well, if you think short-term, then yes – obedience doesn’t always merit a blessing. In long-run, it will.
Another point – what is a blessing? If we know God is pleased with us, then this in itself is a blessing. Not something tangible we’d often like, but it’s a blessing.
And I agree with LarryTheDeuce – we’d be in a serious trouble if God was fair.
Good way to look at it Zee. Two excellent thoughts. Good to hear from you.
I’ve realized today that it has been AAAAAAGES since I’ve commented on your blog
*HUG* How are you doing?
I knew you were adjusting to new stuff at work so i gave you a break.
I am doing well. You?
the lie that “If I ___ then God will ___” is a deep rooted one. And it is slick too – don’t even know you’re feeling that until you are 3 days into a pity party
reminds me of the psalms – praising God no matter what the circumstance. Can’t say I’m very good at that – trying – but I know that praising God is a fix for the pity party.
Good way to put it Craig. it is a deep rooted one, one that won’t just slide away. I, too, know what the Psalms say but find it an equally daunting task to live up to it.
I think Betty summed this up really well. The maturity that comes with wisdom teaches us that it isn’t all about this flesh. We tend to measure all things with our senses, which is playing right into the enemy’s hand.
What would the world be like if people like Joni Erckson Tada (not sure of spelling) and Helen Keller measured their lives the same way? Would we even exist if it weren’t for the sacrifices of the Founding Fathers? If Lincoln didn’t make a stand for rights? (regardless of what you think his motives were) What about MLK Jr? What about the men and women who have died serving for what they believed was their dutiful responsibility?
True peace and joy comes from within, not without. The greatest among us always understand that first. They measure their lives by wisdom and honor. They grasp the words of our Father, “I will have mercy upon whom I choose to have mercy.” And, “My ways are higher than your ways.”
The ones who teach society, including Christians to measure their worth and closeness to God based on material possessions… I seriously have to wonder if they know Him at all…
you give some good living breathing people who have not had it easy, but have triumphed over “bad” things. They found blessing in the brokenness. I stand with you on your last paragraph. Well said Floyd.
Ahhh, one of the many long, hard lessons I had to learn…..you hit int on the head when you said, “we do not see the big picture but we trust the One who does! I have absolutely learned this. So many times I would wring my hands, worry, cry & wonder how to get through bad/painful situations…..it finally stuck in my head that God is in control, I will grow & learn through how I handle the experience & He always knows the bigger picture & what is best for me. For example, Michael has been told we need $730 to fix his rear brakes(darn that son of mine for moving to CA., now we have to pay retail for car repairs!)
It’s not something that is safe to just wait on…..I just said to him yesterday morning, “I’m not going to worry about it, God will provide.” And I meant it. This is one of those annoyances in life, I know there are really horrible circumstances that people are going through much worse than us needed a new brake job. I am not a big “material” person, I know my treasures are stored up in heaven….I am however, a big people person, wanting those I love & others to come to Christ. Great post Bill. Sorry I strayed there a bit. 
No problem with the straying.
I can go to CA and tell Zack to get his rear back to Indiana to fix his mother’s husband’s car. I can visit my brother and his wife while out there. I’m sure that will persuade him. 
but you are right though: God knows and will provide.
I would say a few things:
- Blessings always come with obedience, though they aren’t EARNED by obedience.
- The key is that the blessings may be more of God, not necessarily health, wealth, and earthly happiness.
Good points Loren. We certainly need more of God’s perspective.
Very awesome post and timely for me. I have been thinking a lot about that lately myself. It seems lately that even though I am trying harder than ever to walk the way I’m supposed to, I seem to have so many trials. I really like how you ended with what someone said to you recently. “We do not see the big picture, but we trust the ONE who does.” If we think what Jesus went though and He being without sin, should we complain for the trials we go through? God has a purpose for what He allows us the bear, and He does it because He loves us.
No reason to complain if we think about Jesus. Good point Mike.