Does God Owe Us Something?

A lack of dependability pervades every kind of relationship in today’s society. Forty to fifty years ago, we used to routinely hear phrases like: “You have my word on it.” “A promise is a promise.” “You can count on me.” “My word is my bond.” And for the most part, folks meant these statements when they made them. However, if you hear someone say, “I guarantee it” today — it’s usually an advertising slogan — not a genuine or sincere commitment to act.

People think nothing of saying they will do something, then failing to follow through with it. For example, someone takes a job agreeing to do a certain amount and quality of work for a specified amount of pay, then can’t be counted upon to show up and complete the work. Another person borrows money from another, agreeing to repay the loan within a certain time, then reneges on the payments. A man or woman vows to assume the responsibilities of marriage — then vacates the relationship the very moment things turn from better to worse, or can’t be trusted to faithfully forsake all others, or is long gone long before death is on the horizon.

The saddest scene is when Christians deal with God in the above manner. We make a commitment to serve Him when we become disciples of Christ, but conveniently forget the obligations of that commitment whenever it suits us. We can’t make time to assemble with the saints as we should (Hebrews 10:24-25; Acts 2:42). We can’t be bothered to share the gospel with others (Matthew 28:19; Acts 8:4). It’s too much of a burden for us to be dead to sin and live for righteousness, or make ourselves a living sacrifice (Romans 6:1-14; Romans 12:1-2). And then we become angry when someone calls to our attention the fact that we’re not living up to our duty to the Lord in any of these areas.

On the other side of the coin, we expect God to keep His promises to us. Suppose God decided to neglect this commitment: “For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more” (Hebrews 8:12). What if He said: “Yes, I know I agreed to forgive your sins and forget them, but I changed my mind. I’m going to hold those sins against you anyway.“ Where would we be then? If we count on God to do what He has said He’ll do, should He not be able to depend on us?

This writer fears that sometimes we allow ourselves to believe God owes us something — we rely on His providence and mercy because we think we deserve what we receive from Him. But Jesus tells us that the master owes the servant nothing, even if the servant is obedient in every way: “Does he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I think not. So likewise you, when you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, “We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do” (Luke 17:9-10).

Beloved, God does not owe us His thanks or reward for a job well done. On the contrary — we owe Him our most diligent, faithful service because of what He has done for us (John 3:16-17; Romans 5:6-8; 1 John 4:8-11). In the same way, whatever commitments we make in life, we should honor them simply because it’s our duty to do so.

—Mike Riley, Gospel Snippets