What to Expect of God

I have been thinking lately about the degree to which we can expect blessing from God. Let me warn you that these thoughts are not clearly organized as it is something I have not yet reached a satisfactory answer to. 

Although as totally deprived sinful people we have no claim whatsoever to anything good, God promises time and again to bless us if we serve Him. “Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven.” There is a sense that we can do good for God for the blessing that He promises. We are very, very slow to adopt a mindset of entitlement (which is really good) as we know that we deserve nothing. Yet is it not an act of faith to trust in God’s promises? If He promises to reward those who diligently seek Him, would it not be wrong to expect otherwise? I know here that the blessings we expect, and the blessings He gives rarely coincide. We overwhelmingly look for physical blessing. However looking at scripture, physical blessings are one of the lowest forms of blessing (compared to peace, joy, and a walk with our Father). So I am not at all encouraging people to expect monetary or other physical blessings (as these more often than not are actually curses). But I am considering the fact that expecting nothing in return for the service we give God may actually be a sign of a lack of faith. 

I think this mentality of fear to trust that God will bless stems from being way over focused on our weaknesses. “Wait a minute!” You may be thinking “we’re supposed to see our weakness.” I counter that we are not at all supposed to focus on our weakness. This is merely an inverse form of pride. Yes, we absolutely need to recognize our weakness, but that is only so that we can see the greatness of the one who is our life. Paul says “I might decrease so that He may increase!” The purpose of Paul (us) decreasing is not so that we can look at how weak we are but that we can see the glorious majesty of the One who can use us despite our weakness. We are weak, but He “has not given us a spirit of fear (or weakness), but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” 

So if we can subtract this inappropriate focus on our weakness and instead focus on His power, can we then go even further and expect Him to bless us like He promises He will? I do not know. I mean, yes we can obviously expect Him to fulfill His promises, but it also seems almost arrogant to expect blessing. How are these reconciled together?

I’d love to hear what you think! This is something that has come to be a focus of my thoughts and I’d love other peoples input on it so that I may reach an answer. 

Following is a passage of promise that I recently read from Leviticus. After this (if you continue reading in Leviticus), comes a passage where God promises punishment if His children turn away from Him. We obviously have no problem expecting and trusting that God will fulfill a promise to punish disobedience, why do we have so many problems with expecting/trusting that He will fulfill His promises of blessing? We also daily should be looking forward to our heavenly home where we will no longer be strangers, pilgrims, and wanderers. This is hope and expectations in one of God's promises. Why is there such a taboo on expecting God to fulfill His other promises?

‘If you walk in My statutes and keep My commandments, and perform them, then I will give you rain in its season, the land shall yield its produce, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit.

Your threshing shall last till the time of vintage, and the vintage shall last till the time of sowing; you shall eat your bread to the full, and dwell in your land safely.

I will give peace in the land, and you shall lie down, and none will make you afraid;

I will rid the land of evil beasts, and the sword will not go through your land.

You will chase your enemies, and they shall fall by the sword before you.

Five of you shall chase a hundred, and a hundred of you shall put ten thousand to flight; your enemies shall fall by the sword before you.

‘For I will look on you favorably and make you fruitful, multiply you and confirm My covenant with you.

You shall eat the old harvest, and clear out the old because of the new.

I will set My tabernacle among you, and My soul shall not abhor you.

 I will walk among you and be your God, and you shall be My people.

I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, that you should not be their slaves;

I have broken the bands of your yoke and made you walk upright.

Leviticus 26:3-13 (NKJV)