I cannot stand doing the laundry, especially those annoying loads where many, many items must be hung after washing and not just thrown into the dryer (for fear of shrinking those clothes). But what I cannot stand, even more, is for my wife to do the laundry, especially after one of her long workdays. And, most importantly, the joy of removing that burden from her is far greater than the pain (or irritation or aggravation) of doing the laundry myself.

 

This brings to mind all of the decisions I make on a daily basis, and how those choices mostly boil down to this: Will I obey God or will I obey myself? There are things God tells me to do that I would prefer not to do. And there are things He tells me not to do that I would prefer to do (see Romans 7:14ff for a more detailed breakdown of this ongoing battle). When I do actually make the right decision, I’m motivated primarily by a trust in the idea that God knows what’s best for me. And the joy of following God is far greater than the pain (or irritation or aggravation) of not following Him and doing what I want to do (or avoiding what I don’t want to do).

 

What this means, ultimately, is that a great reward comes to us when we trust and obey God rather than ourselves. This doesn’t mean we receive a big pile of cash or a guarantee of zero medical issues or any other “health and wealth” types of blessings. The best reward of seeking God is to find the thing for which you are looking. The best reward that God gives is when He gives Himself. Many other blessings and rewards come when we truly seek after God and follow Him, but the best thing is that God draws near. Whether life is going smoothly and we are full of joy, or life is going poorly and we are full of despair, God is our companion and He walks by our sides.

 

“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him” (Hebrews 11:6). With this in mind, I am both excited and disheartened to tell you that my laundry hamper is full.

 

Troy Burns