Pleasing God

We are all interested in rewards. All ages, all cultures, all times, everyone is motivated by rewards, and the flip-side, by punishment. Infants and toddlers are quietened by rewards, and preschoolers may be made to behave by punishments. School-age children are kept in line, first by rewards offered, and if needed, by punishments threatened.

​As we become adults, we exercise our choices and focus our energies in pursuing those things we enjoy and take delight in, to whatever degree of freedom we can, limiting our involvement only by what is required to avoid the dire threats of our employer or our spouse.

It is true that a reward you don't have to work for does not bring lasting enjoyment or pleasure. As children, we would strongly disagree, but as adults and parents, we understand the need of putting time and effort into achieving the rewards of reaching our goals.

Our most enduring lessons are often gained through some combination of rewards and punishments, hopefully more of the former and less of the latter. Researchers have learned that our brains are wired so that facts and knowledge will be retained longer, and in greater detail, when associated with some type of strong emotion, pleasure or pain, disappointment or enjoyment, to "cement" them in place in our memory.

Even after striving for and achieving the dream you set your sights on, sometimes the reward is bittersweet, not living up to the anticipation that motivated you. Or it might crumble even as you reach for it, falling apart as you watch.

Only what we have from God is of any worth. Only the things we do in obedience to God will have any lasting value. God works in relationships rather than money and property. An abundance of material goods does not show God's favor, only that God has given the tools for work that needs to be done. If riches are seen as an end to itself rather than a provisioning for a task, the point is lost and the reward is missed.

Psalm 7:8...Judge me, O Lord, according to my righteousness, according to my integrity, O Most High.

Matthew 6:1 Be careful not to do your 'acts of righteousness' before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.

In several places through the sixth chapter of Matthew, Jesus discusses the right way and the wrong way to practice righteous living. In each case, there are rewards for doing what should be done, but the rewards can be very short-lived and bittersweet, or they can be rich and eternal, satisfying beyond belief.

Genesis 18:14 Is anything too hard for the Lord?

Abraham and Sarah were given promises from God that staggered their belief but provided rewards that met the desires of their hearts. They were childless and they were promised not only a child, but nations and kings as their descendants.

Genesis 18:19 For I have chosen him so that he will direct his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing what is right and just, so that the Lord will bring about for Abraham what He has promised him.

The Scriptures contain many references to rewards and punishments, some temporal and short-lived, others eternal. Many times what we think the Bible says or what we remember from it, or have heard others say about it, may not be exactly what is written. Take the time to read it for yourself, listen to what God tells you about it, talk about it to other believers, mull it over, let it soak in. Dwell on the contents, turning it over in your mind, writing it down, speaking it so you can hear it. Search the Word of God and let the Word explain the Word.

Proverbs 2:1-5
My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding, and if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.

Faithful and rewarding Father, thank You for the blessings and rich rewards You have given us. From the gift of the new birth from your Son, Jesus, to the promise of our daily bread, our lives and spirits are enriched and uplifted. Your love, shown in what You do for us, is our motivator and our sustainer as we follow your Spirit through today. With Your armor in place, we will confront the discouragements and inadequacies that often plague us and with the weapon of prayer, thrust through discouragements, produce breakthroughs, and rescue others as well as ourselves from impossible circumstances, using Your defense plans.

4M07G03U