DOES OUR OBEDIENCE ENTITLE US TO RECEIVE GOD’S BLESSINGS?

 

 

There are many verses that teach us that we will reap what we sow. For example:

 

·       Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. (Galatians 6:7)

 

·       Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. (James 4:8)

 

·       Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing. (1 Peter 3:9)

 

The Bible is packed with the assurances that we will be blessed as we bless. Therefore, this formula emerges:

Sow —> Reap

 

Therefore, doesn’t our obedience to the Lord entitle us to His blessings? Certainly not! This belief would produce pride and arrogance. Instead, our Lord humbles us in order to exalt us:

 

·       “Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.” (Matthew 23:12)

 

How then do we humble ourselves? For one thing, we thank God for even our good deeds—our sowing:

 

·       But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me. (1 Corinthians 15:10)

 

Paul understood that even our labors are part of God’s gift to us. How?

 

·       for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. (Philippians 2:13)

 

Consequently, God even should get the credit for any good coming out of our lives (James 1:17):

 

·       For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:10)

 

Nevertheless, we too must assume our responsibility in this mysterious process. Are we entitled to God’s blessings? No! We are only entitled to one thing—damnation (Roman 6:23). Therefore, a more complete understanding should look like this:

 

Grace —> Sow —> Reap