Articles
The Blessings Of The Lord
The Gospel of Health and Wealth promotes the idea that when people obey God they can expect great blessings in this life, in this case, blessings of a material nature. Good health, riches, promotions at work, success at school, etc., are all held forth as possible results of one=s obedience to God=s word. What can we rightly expect from God in this life? What blessings will come to us when we are honestly striving to do what is right?
And they journeyed, and the terror of God was upon the cities that were all around them, and they did not pursue the sons of Jacob (Genesis 35:5). The Lord told Jacob to travel to Bethel, where Jacob then built an altar. Jacob then told his family to give up the remnants of idolatry, which evidently they did. Then, on their journey, the Lord protected them with a terror (NKJV). Was this some kind of miraculous deliverance? Was it providential care of God over Jacob and his family? Whatever the explanation, it is clear that the Lord was watching over the activities of this patriarch. Can we expect the same protection today?
Most would admit that God’s providence has seen them through some difficult times. Most can look back and see deliverance in the midst of travel or sickness or family trouble. But what about the times when devoted Christians prayed for help only to see a loved one die, or when in traveling, a loved one is killed in an accident? What of the prayers of godly parents for wayward children who turned away from the Lord? How do we balance the belief that God cares for His children with the obvious trials and tribulations that often enter the life of believers?
In the OT accidents did happen (Num. 35:22-29). Does this mean God wasn’t watching over Israel? In the NT Christ says that suffering will come to the faithful. "Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you” (Matthew 5:11-12). Persecution will come to the faithful. We will not needlessly seek it out, but it will come when we stand for what is right (1 Peter 3:17; John 15:18-19). We would not expect protection from the very things the Lord said would come to us.
Still, “the way of duty is the way of safety” (Matthew Henry). Our lives are blessed in the here and now. There are blessings that come from doing what is right. “And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ” (Colossians 3:23-24). And we have the promise that greater things are in store for us when this life ends. The fear of the LORD leads to life, And he who has it will abide in satisfaction; He will not be visited with evil (Proverbs 19:23). Qualities of faithfulness lead to the abundant entrance of eternal life (2 Peter 1:3-11). Yet, expecting too much from this life can quench our appetites for heaven. Be careful.
