We will be disappointed in God if we view our relationship with him in transactional terms.
We renounced our worldly ways and became a spiritually reborn believer. We live more righteously than most people. Our theology is doctrinally sound, and we tithe regularly.
Therefore, God should reward us with personal success, safety, and satisfaction. At the very least, he should minimize our suffering.
This sense of entitlement is unwarranted.
Through the death of Jesus, God paid the ultimate price so we could enjoy eternity with him in heaven. We appropriate this benefit by simply confessing our sinfulness to him and asking Jesus to be our personal Savior.
Expecting God to make life easy because we accepted his gift of salvation and, by his grace, live somewhat righteously reveals a selfish perspective rooted in an incorrect view of him and ourselves.
God’s Favor
God’s favor toward us is not a matter of negotiation, persuasion, or ingratiation.
We cannot bargain for his blessings because we have nothing of comparable value to exchange for them.
We cannot coax him with a promise of obedience because he knows we are fallen creatures prone to disobedience.
We cannot entice him with a commitment to serve him because his ability to advance the Gospel does not depend on our ministry.
God blesses us according to his plans for us, not according to our plans for him.
His top priority is our spiritual rebirth. After that, he intends for us to experience true contentment, regardless of our circumstances, and to minister to others on his behalf, using the resources he provides.
He bestows on us the blend of blessings that will fulfill these purposes in our lives and in the lives of those within our orbit as we walk in harmony with him.
