If God rewards obedience, why does life seem to become more difficult when we choose to obey God?
Sep 27, 2010
The Base for Grace: part fourteen in a study of the book of Hebrews
By Mike Gaudet
If God rewards obedience . . .
. . . why does life seem to become more difficult when we choose to obey God?
“God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them. We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, in order to make your hope sure. We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.” Hebrews 6:10-12
Politicians sometimes forget campaign pledges once elected to office. Promises made to staffers for their tireless efforts on the candidate’s behalf are also forgotten. This is “unjust.”
“God is not unjust.” He does not forget promises made to those who sacrifice time and effort to further His causes.
What does God care about?
God cares about His children who are discouraged.
The chronic adversity faced by first century Jewish Christians eroded their faith. Increasing discouragement caused some of them to distance themselves from the Christian communities they had become part of.
The Christian community was divided in its response. Some plodded on with no concern for those who were falling by the wayside. Others came alongside their weary brothers and sisters and encouraged them to keep moving.
God took notice of those who slowed their pace and “helped his people.” The love they showed to their discouraged brothers and sisters was also love “shown him.” He assured these encouragers that He would not “forget their work.”
Expressions of concern for those who are struggling to keep up can be time-consuming. Saying “yes” to opportunities to encourage means saying “no” to opportunities for rest and relaxation. It’s natural to look longingly at others who are pursuing enjoyment and wonder if remaining behind to do the selfless work of encouragement is worth it.
Peter must have entertained this question. He considered the price he paid to follow Jesus. Leaving home. Moving from place to place. He wondered if it was worth it.
Jesus directed Peter’s gaze toward the eternal implications of temporal earthly choices.
“I tell you the truth,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age (homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields — and with them, persecutions) and in the age to come, eternal life.” Mark 10:28-30
Jesus assured Peter that God would balance the scales in the end.
Paul drew energy from the conviction that “momentary troubles” he experienced would result in “eternal glory.”
“Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” 2 Corinthians 4:16-18
When we look at life through the lens of eternity, we receive the strength to exercise “faith and patience.” Keeping our eyes on long-term gain helps us to weather short-term pain.
God sees and remembers each and every time we go out of our way to help someone who is struggling. He assures us that we will “inherit what has been promised.”
When faith in God expresses itself in love to others . . .
. . . God never forgets.