The Lord gives grace and glory; no good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly.
–Psalm 84:11
Yesterday, I shared two principles for dealing decisively with sin in your life. Number one: refuse to allow immoral thoughts to take residence in your mind. Number two: amputate any immoral activity in your life. Let me close out our study this week with two final principles.
Number three: visualize the consequences of immoral behavior. My dad had an interesting habit: he posted newspaper clippings about politicians, religious leaders, and movie stars who had fallen into sin on the side of the refrigerator. As kids, we called it Dad’s Wall of Shame. It was the first thing we saw every time we walked into the kitchen. You might think that’s bizarre, but in a way, it was healthy for us to be reminded of the consequences of violating God’s rules.
Paul also reminded us in Colossians 3:6, “It is because of these things [immorality, impurity, evil desires, and greed] that the wrath of God will come upon the sons of disobedience.” In the Bible, the term “wrath of God” primarily refers to God’s judgment against unbelievers. If you’re a Christian, you don’t have to worry about God’s wrath, but you do have to worry about His discipline. Hebrews 12:6 says, “Those whom the Lord loves He disciplines, and He scourges every son whom He receives.” God loves you too much to allow you to continue in sin without severe and painful consequences. If you’re involved in immorality and you haven’t experienced God’s discipline, it’s because He’s giving you one last chance to repent. Remember the consequences of disobedience.
Number four: learn to be content with God’s provision in every area of your life. Wanting something more or different than what God has planned for you is the root of every other sin. So it makes sense that the antidote to those sins would be contentment with God’s provision. In 1 Timothy 6:6, Paul wrote, “Godliness actually is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment.” Friend, as long as you are living obediently, God will give you everything you need for a satisfying life. Psalm 84:11 says, “The Lord gives grace and glory; no good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly.”
Your job, bank account, home, family, and marital status are all part of God’s good and loving provision for your life. To want something more or different than what you have right now is to say, “God, I can’t trust You to give me what I really need.” Learn to be content with what God has provided for you.
