Today is day 25 of the #iheartBible challenge that I’m hosting. If you have joined up, hooray! I’m glad you’re here. If you want to join up, then awesomesauce! Check out the challenge post for details and join in on the linky so we can all read one another’s posts during the challenge. I love Jesus and blogging, so I’m glad to see people joining in. We’d love to have you join, too. It’s never too late!
Today’s verse is Proverbs 2.22. Read it below in its context (Why do I care about context?):
20 So you will walk in the way of the good
and keep to the paths of the righteous.
21 For the upright will inhabit the land,
and those with integrity will remain in it,
22 but the wicked will be cut off from the land,
and the treacherous will be rooted out of it.
Today’s verse follows yesterday’s verse–not just in this challenge, but also in the actual, real life Bible! Yesterday’s verse discusses the rewards that come with integrity and right-living. This verse brings light to the other end of the story. Not only are we rewarded for our obedience, we are also punished when disobey.
This reminds me of a question that was brought up recently in our Bible study: Are you more motivated by positive rewards or by negative punishment?
I am, by far, more motivated by negative punishment. I don’t like getting into trouble. Principal’s office? Not for me. Apparently, my parents spanked me once. Lectures always worked pretty well after that. And threats. Threats were successful. On a related note, my smart mother successfully used reverse psychology on me all. the. time.
Anyway.
Where was I?
Oh, the verse.
Yesterday, the verse assured us we would be rewarded for integrity. Today, we are assured punishment for wickedness. Let’s apply this to the concept of fairness. We often get all up in arms about when people do bad things. “They should be punished!” we say. “Why doesn’t God do something about this!?” we ask.
This is the answer. God punishes wickedness. Sometimes right away. Sometimes later. But it’s a promise.
A promise.
Love,
