DOES GOD’S MERITED FAVOR HAVE A NAME?

In the movie Courageous, sheriff’s deputy Adam Mitchell proclaims he wants God’s favor on his family and on his life as a matter of obedience to the Lord. This prompted me to consider God’s grace and favor. We understand God’s grace to be his unmerited favor towards us, neither that which we cannot earn nor something he owes us. Because of His great love, God who is rich in mercy has revealed grace to us in Christ Jesus.

But what do we call God’s response to us when we are obedient? Is that also favor? Do we have a name for it?

As a Christ-follower, I think I have shied away from talking about this subject because of my undeserving nature. I see many things in life as acts of the Lord’s grace. But there are Scriptures that point to actions the Lord takes in the lives of his people as a result of their obedience.

Consider this declaration from the Sons of Korah, “For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly.” (Psalm 84:11)

I believe we as Christ-followers also refrain from talking about anything the Lord may give in response to our actions because we do not want to cross that line into earning our salvation. So we do not talk often about rewards or merited favor. We probably speak less about seeking it. Thus, when someone did speak of it (albeit a movie character), it caught my attention.

In the Old Testament, the word ”favor” seems to act like the word “grace,” as an unmerited act towards an undeserving person. Other times, it seems to be the result of finding something of worth or value in a person.

So what would we call the Lord’s good gifts that flow from obedience? Does “honor” or “favor” fit well enough? Is there another word or concept we could explore, like “reward?” And while we explore it, could be not be shy about speaking of it to one another. If it is worth seeking, it is worth speaking about.

1. 

   Edd says:

   December 13, 2011 at 3:38 pm

   A couple of words come to mind:
   Normal. Our world is corrupted by sin. Prior to that, when Adam was in the garden, his good actions (caring for the garden) resulted in good things (he got to eat). Being able to converse with God was a normal thing–he didn’t need Jesus as mediator.

   Love. If all of our righteousness is as filthy rags n(Isaiah 64:6), then even our “good” works don’t deserve a good response. But God loves us and wants to do good things for us. This is normal. Like a loving Father He wants us to walk down the right path, so He encourages us when we go the right way but He disciplines us when we start going astray.

   In my mind I picture a romantic story where a man loves a woman and relentlessly pursues her. But she rejects His love and turns away. God, in His love, doesn’t give up. When the woman responds favorably to that love she enjoys the fruit of being in that relationship. That’s the normal part.

   Out of God’s great love, He doesn’t typically give up when we walk away–though sometimes He just lets us go, letting the bad fruit we get when we’re out of relationship making us long for that relationship because of the fruits we enjoyed (prodigal Son; Romans 1:24 (”abandoned” or “gave them over”))