Paying for lack of obedience
A bishop recently suggested that as a society we may "reap what we sow", a partial result of not believing in or listening to God.
Is this true?
Anyone reading the Bible, especially parts of Genesis and Deuteronomy, will conclude that God considers himself to be good and holy and expects obedience, and wants to be worshiped (loved and praised).
In return, he promises to take care of us, individually or as a nation, and provide for us like any good father, husband or male friend. Doesn't sound too difficult or too hard a bargain!
Then I look at society today, and what are we teaching our children? Three examples:
1. TV and sex education. God says sleep with only one spouse. Society's response - sexual immorality, adultery and promiscuity at all levels.
Result, God says, land becomes polluted. Flooding does pollute the land and sexually transmitted diseases abound.
2. Respect - we should respect (pay due attention to) God, parents, elders, and those in authority.
Yet there's a lot of "dissing" about, and God's result for obedience is that you'll live long and things will go well for you.
But there seems to be a lot of teenagers having accidents, being killed and finding life hard in general.
3. God says don't oppress the poor or charge interest to fellow Israelites, yet banks and credit card companies try all sorts of tricks to entice anyone, then charge exorbitant fees and interest, even taking working tax credit from single mums.
Ignoring him brings results, often unwelcome ones and floods aren't the only way. He may remind us of where we stand before him.
J Norwood, Montgomery
