Cause & Effect

This is also referred to principle of causation. It means that one event causes another to happen. The cause is “why” it happened, and the effect is “what” happened.  An example might be if I eat horribly and never exercise, I will gain weight.  There are multiple cause and effect things that happen in my world all the time.

As I’ve journeyed through Job, I’ve watched his “friends” hammer him with advice and counsel through his suffering. There are people who teach cause and effect as it relates to God. This is where Elihu was going with his counsel to Job. Check this out….

⁵ Look up into the sky,
    and see the clouds high above you.
⁶ If you sin, how does that affect God?
    Even if you sin again and again,
    what effect will it have on him?
⁷ If you are good, is this some great gift to him?
    What could you possibly give him?
⁸ No, your sins affect only people like yourself,
    and your good deeds also affect only humans. (Job 35:5-8 NLT)

I think there is some accuracy and logic to Elihu’s point. He basically says that if you sin, you only hurt the people around you and it doesn’t hurt God. I would probably push back a bit on that. My relationship with God is like a “father-son” relationship. I believe that my sin hurts God’s heart.  I believe that in my sin, I harm my relationship with my Father.  I don’t make Him weaker by my sin – but I do make myself weaker by my own sin.  I also am grateful that the Lord doesn’t give me the “effect” of what my sin deserves – that is grace.

I want to do good things and be a good person because I love the Lord. He loves me and He inspires and motivates me to be good and do good. I do this NOT necessarily to “get” something in return. There are principles in play. If I do good things for others, it blesses them and eventually I’m blessed for being a blessing. It’s not always like a “quid pro quo” where I receive in return for what I give.

I do want to do good things. I want to be a good person. I’m obedient to the Lord because He saved me NOT in order for Him to save me. I want to follow Him BECAUSE He loved me first and saved me.  I do believe that the Lord smiles upon my obedience and my faithfulness to Him. I believe there is blessing upon my life because of Who He is and not necessarily because I’m a good person who does good things. I believe ALL good gifts come from the Father.