Focus Chapters:
- Job 35-37
Standout Verse(s):
Job 35:6-8 NLT
If you sin, how does that affect God?
Even if you sin again and again,
what effect will it have on him?
If you are good, is this some great gift to him?
What could you possibly give him?
No, your sins affect only people like yourself,
and your good deeds also affect only humans.
Observation (s):
- God is not negatively or positively affected by our sinful state. God gains nothing from us being godly. We and the people around us are impacted by actions, not God.
Application:
Picture this. Growing up, on a daily basis, our parents tried to instill habits in us that would produce great results in our future lives. I am reminded of the many times my mother would push me to study because she wanted me to have the best possible shot at my future, especially because we came from a poor family. Our earthly parents want the best for us and whilst they are not necessarily impacted by our decisions and actions, they still guide us in the right way because they understood how the results of our actions and decisions can adversely affect us and the people we come in contact with.
Our Heavenly Father is far greater than our earthly parents and is in no way or form affected by our actions but He cares enough about us to intervene before our actions produce consequences that are negative to us and fellow human beings. Despite this, sometimes we behave as though we are the ones doing God a favor. We behave as though:
- God would be the hurt party if we fail to deliver on godliness and choose to sin.
- God is the beneficiary of our good deeds and benevolence.
Isn’t that ridiculous?! It is time, we pull our heads from the sand. The only persons affected by your actions and decisions are you and your earthly neighbors.
