PORRIDGE FOR THE SOUL: DOES OBEDIENCE GRANT BLESSINGS?

Will blessings inevitably follow when believers obey God?

By and large, it is safe to say that there are blessings to be had when believers obey God. These blessings include God’s peace, His presence and guidance, prosperity, honour and long life.

“This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success” (Joshua 1:8).

“And if you faithfully obey the voice of the Lord your God, being careful to do all his commandments that I command you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth. And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, if you obey the voice of the Lord your God” (Deuteronomy 28:1-2).

“The rewards of humility and the fear of the LORD are wealth and honour and life” (Proverbs 22:4).

“Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land” (Ephesians 6:2-3).

“Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him” (John 14: 21).

If a believer has qualities like a sound mind to make good decisions, integrity, honesty, diligence, a positive attitude of serving others as if he is serving God and going the second mile, he has a high probablity of attaining success, whether as an employee or an entrepreneur running his own business. If he is working under someone, he will able to impress his superior and be singled out for promotion ... the way Joseph rose to a high position just subordinate to Pharaoh even though they do not share the same beliefs.

However, it does not necessarily mean believers will be free from trials and sicknesses, retrenchment and financial problems. Despite the fact we are saved, our souls and spirits are still housed in imperfect bodies. We are still living in a world plagued with strife and turmoil.

We may start a business but unforeseen circumstances, such as a pandemic, may cause it to go belly up.

We may be stricken with Covid-19 and suffer long-term ill health as a result of the disease.

Though we nurture our children the best way we possibly can according to scriptures, if they choose to rebel and turn away from the faith, there is little we can do except pray and commit their souls to God.

So, for believers who choose to obey God, there is no guarantee of success or what we would term a “good life”.

While there are many blessings that come with obedience, both tangible and intangible ones, God does not necessarily guarantee that we will enjoy a life of prosperity and health ... even for those who obey His commands.

How then should believers live out their lives?

We, as believers, ought to let the following verses guide our life:

“Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (Matthew 6:33).

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.

In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths” (Proverbs 3:5-6).

Our role is to seek God and obey His commandments; blessings ought to be a secondary consideration. We should primarily seek the Giver, not the gift.

God knows what we need. And He will reward us for our faithfulness to Him. He may even bless us in unimaginable ways, more abundantly than what we ask or think (Ephesians 3:20).

Blessed is the man

who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,

nor stands in the way of sinners,

nor sits in the seat of scoffers;

but his delight is in the law of the Lord,

and on his law he meditates day and night.

He is like a tree

planted by streams of water

that yields its fruit in its season,

and its leaf does not wither.

In all that he does, he prospers.

(Psalm 1:1-3)