What Do You Deserve?

This is a guest post from my sister, Kelsey. Kelsey has her Master’s Degree in Social Work and mentors new social workers while coordinating case managers. She recently decided to go back to school to learn ASL so she can better assist her clients. In her free time, Kelsey likes to read, write, exercise outdoors, and study the Bible.

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Everyday God gives us what we don’t deserve. The penalty of sin is death; as sinful people, death is what we deserve. [1] Although we deserve death, God saved us by His grace through Jesus. [2] This is a free gift to all those who call Jesus Christ their Lord and Savior. [3]

As I reflect on the coldness of my heart I am reminded of all that I have, all that I don’t deserve. God blessed me with a wonderful family and I am sometimes unkind to them, silently judging their imperfections in my heart. Who am I to judge? My heart is also black as coal. God blessed me with a good job that provides all the money I need and more; sometimes I squander my salary on unnecessary things. I have material possessions that I hesitate to share, and selfishly guard my time and mental energy. I lack self-control and discipline, often overeating and overspending. I watch too much TV and read for too long while I know I must accomplish other tasks. I am my own treasure; my selfish desires are the idol of my heart.

The book of Proverbs explains well what happens when we live with a prideful attitude. Proverbs 16:18 says, “Pride goes before a destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.” Likewise, Proverbs 18:12 tells us, “Before a downfall the heart is haughty, but humility comes before honor.” In short, humility brings honor, but pride brings destruction. Matthew 6:21 says: “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Where is my heart? My heart is often with my earthly treasures: pride, money, and material things. Matthew 6:24 reminds us, “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.”

God placed very clear warnings in Scripture against living with a prideful spirit and treasuring earthly possessions. Only because of God can I heed His words and place my trust in what is heavenly instead of what is earthly. All good things, including the transformation of my heart, come from God. [4] He says: “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you. I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and make you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws” (Ezekiel 36:26-27).

So, take heart! God conquered sin and death, and has a redemption story for all those who call him Father. Walk with God, and He will renew your mind. God will finish what He started, and use our trials to mold us into the people He created us to be. [5]

[1] Romans 6:23
[2] Ephesians 2:5,8
[3] John 3:16
[4] James 1:17
[5] Philippians 1:6