For you also ask, `What's in it for me?
What's the use of living a righteous life?' (Job 35:3 NLT)
Anyone who has been a Christian for any length of time will at some point or another ask, "What's the use of living a righteous life?" It appears that the wicked increasingly prosper & the righteous are left with less & less. The wicked live life without conscience, without inhibition, doing what they want, when they want, however they want, with whomever they want.
Not so the righteous.
The righteous are always examining their ways. Always seeking to follow God more faithfully. Always seeking to bridal their passions & sinful attitudes. The righteous say no to many things in their lives so that they can say yes to the most important. The righteous do without here on earth so that they can store up treasures in heaven.
I imagine Job was wrestling with this question as well. If he is just going to lose everything then what's the point? Does God reward righteous living with suffering? Does God reward faithfulness with taking his family? Does God reward blamelessness with taking his health? Does God reward godliness with allowing Satan to test Job?
It just doesn't seem worth it.
In the end though, the wicked receive what's coming to them. They may have their reward on earth but eternity will be a different story.
Similarly, the righteous may have some difficulty here, in fact, Jesus promised that very thing, but eternity will be just the opposite.
The question then remains, are we living for today or are we living for eternity? To follow Christ means to do both!
No comments:
Post a Comment