With Pleasure

Have you ever been ‘harassed’ by a beggar on the street? What about those kids that hold your arm till you give them spare change from your purse?

I’ve noticed that people usually give money to them for either of two reasons: to get rid of the nuisance or to help them. Most times though, it’s the former.

People sometimes do good not because they’re moved from their hearts, but they just want to look good, to appease their guilt, or simply get rid of the nuisance hanging on to their arm.

This doesn’t take from the fact that money has left their pocket, but as it’s said anything worth doing is worth doing well.

Paul takes it further: “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as though you were working for the Lord and not for people.”¹

This is the right attitude to have towards every single act we carry out.

Ultimately, God has set us an example. He is the standard for well-doing. He doesn’t just love us, He does us good to express His love.

Sometimes a person could forgive a debtor to get rid of him, especially if continually going after the debtor would pose a burden of greater physical or psychological significance than the debt, but God isn’t like that. Who is a God like You, offering forgiveness for evil-doing and overlooking the sins of the rest of His heritage? He does not keep His wrath for ever, because His delight is in mercy.²

People misrepresent Jesus’ illustration of prayer when He talked about the widow and the unrighteous judge³, but God isn’t unrighteous. He doesn’t help you to stop you from pestering Him, He does it with pleasure.

He said/says concerning those who chose/choose to be loyal and obedient to Him, “He will bless you with many children, large herds and flocks, and abundant crops. The LORD will be happy to do good things for you, just as He did for your ancestors.”  That’s what He does. God is good, and He doesn’t charge for it.

The devil would have you believe you’re a burden to God, and your many prayers are a nuisance, but God says different, “it makes Him happy when His people pray”⁴.

Appeasement gifts from insincere people disgust Him, and God He can’t be bought over, but honest requests from sincere people always get to Him.

God’s goodness is beyond necessity and obligation, He does it with pleasure.

So remember that you’re not praising God so He can listen to your requests, but you’re worshiping Him because He’ll help you regardless.

In prayer we don’t attempt to sweet-talk God into doing what He’s unwilling to do, but we cue into His will, and receive the answers He already gave before we asked.⁶

¹ Col 3:23

² Mic 7:18

³ Luke 18:1-9

⁴ Deu 30:9

⁵ Pro 15:8

⁶ Isa 65:24