Blessings and Curses in the Christian Life

The bible consistently assumes a relationship between God and his legitimate children whereby God involves himself and deliberately concerns himself with his children in order to reprove, admonish, and discipline those who love him.

 17 For the time has come for judgment to begin with God’s household, and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who disobey the gospel of God?

The Holy Bible: Holman Christian Standard Version. (Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers, 2009), 1 Pe 4:16–17.

5 And you have forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons: My son, do not take the Lord’s discipline lightly or faint when you are reproved by Him, 6 for the Lord disciplines the one He loves and punishes every son He receives.

The Holy Bible: Holman Christian Standard Version. (Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers, 2009), Heb 12:5–6.

15 “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vineyard keeper. 2 Every branch in Me that does not produce fruit He removes, and He prunes every branch that produces fruit so that it will produce more fruit.

The Holy Bible: Holman Christian Standard Version. (Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers, 2009), Jn 15:1–2.

22 “Understand this, you who forget God, or I will tear you apart, and there will be no one to rescue you. 23 Whoever sacrifices a thank offering honors Me, and whoever orders his conduct, I will show him the salvation of God.”

The Holy Bible: Holman Christian Standard Version. (Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers, 2009), Ps 50:22–23.

The principle is this - we must be aware that God knows our lives and calls us to live in a manner worthy of his calling. If there is sin in your life, be assured that God knows and, if you are his child, he will bring hardship on you until you confess your ways and turn away from them.

As far as I am aware. There are 5 kinds of suffering in this life.

1. Suffering as a direct result of the fall. The curse on our daily work - the soil for man and the children for women.

2. Suffering as a direct result of one’s foolish and sinful actions - either your own or that of another

3. Suffering as means of testing and refinement as in the case of Job.

4. Suffering as a means of reproof from the Lord.

Notice that each of these is actually a grace because each of these is intended to remind us of our condition before God and draw us closer to him in repentance. If there was no suffering, make no mistake, there would be no repentance. Humans in their obstinance would happily go on enjoying the rich blessings of God with no mind to thank him or turn from their sinful ways if it weren’t painfully obvious that something is not right in this world. If you are going along in this life without a trouble or concern, be afraid, for you probably fit either one of two categories: either you are blissfully unaware of your own sinfulness and unwilling to raise your eyes to heaven to expose your heart or consider the majesty of God almighty or you are already given over to your hearts desires, which is a sign of your judgement.

24 Therefore God delivered them over in the cravings of their hearts to sexual impurity, so that their bodies were degraded among themselves. 25 They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served something created instead of the Creator, who is praised forever. Amen.

The Holy Bible: Holman Christian Standard Version. (Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers, 2009), Ro 1:24–25.

If God has given you over to your sinful desires, whether they are seemingly benign or malignant, it is a very worrying state in which to live. God may demand your life at any moment, and you thought not for a second to consider him before it’s too late. Whether in ignorance or determination, if you are living your best life now, it is as a great preacher once said “it’s because you are going to hell”.

The Christian can expect to experience trouble in this life. While it may seem that we are surrounded by successful people who are rich, while we are troubled and poor. Think then on this and take comfort. Am I currently living in sin, and have I given the Lord, my Father in heaven, reason to place a heavy burden around my neck, has he caused my bones to become brittle, and my muscles to ache. Is there an opportunity for me to correct something in my life, something I have tolerated, is there a place I have wandered, from where I should turn back and return from. If so, then turn back today. Take comfort and know that the Lord is calling you home, listen to that voice however small you’ve let it become, to return to the Father of Light, and let the light shine brightly on you and rejoice that the Lord himself has paid for your way. The Lord himself has made a sacrifice on your behalf, if only you would accept it with empty hands. And remember also, that those who are around you, seemingly enjoying life to the fullest, are in great danger, and that God is allowing them to fill up their cups in preparation for the day of wrath. Warn them of their error, in humble pleading, tell them that you too once lived this way and urge them to receive the Lord and not the world.

16 Do not be afraid when a man gets rich, when the wealth of his house increases. 17 For when he dies, he will take nothing at all; his wealth will not follow him down. 18 Though he praises himself during his lifetime— and people praise you when you do well for yourself — 19 he will go to the generation of his fathers; they will never see the light. 20 A man with valuable possessions but without understanding is like the animals that perish.

The Holy Bible: Holman Christian Standard Version. (Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers, 2009), Ps 49:16–20.