Sunday, April 12, 2015

Please God First and Your Rewards Will Follow

Suffer the Little Children to Come Unto Me
Suffer the Little Children to Come Unto Me (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight.

Proverbs 3:5-6
New International Version (NIV)

        This world can make it tough on the person who wants to do right and live by the precepts of what is taught in the Bible.  Sometimes it feels like Christians are fighting a losing battle.  More often than not we've seen the side of righteousness cede to the way of worldliness.

         Most people react according to what makes them feel good and doesn't offend others.  Sure it's nice to be happy and be filled with good feelings, but if it's sin then it is the wrong way to go.  Sin often feels good when you're at it, but down the road there are consequences and what we reap from sin is not very pleasant.

          And if you're trying to go through life not offending anybody then you might as well give up now.  You can never please everyone so you should accept that trying to do so is a futile goal.  What pleases one will offend another.  Even the best and sweetest actions you can think of can be condemned by someone somewhere.  

           The only goal that matters is pleasing God.  We can please ourselves and others, but those actions are in vain if they have not been performed within the parameters that God has set out for us.  Likewise we can set about doing good in God's eyes and be reviled by most of the world.  To be hated for doing the right thing is a victory that not many of us enjoy winning.

            Do what good you can.   Stand firm in righteousness and the ways of God.  Your rewards may not be instantaneous, but your rewards will be waiting for you somewhere in the future.  

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
Galatians 6:9
New International Version (NIV)

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