How good is your long-term vision?
I find it interesting that psychologist studies have found immediate rewards and long-term consequences are the best way to motivate people, and I wonder how the findings line up with the Bible. Though God does propose long-term consequences to wicked thoughts and deeds, He also mentions that they seem to prosper in the short-term. On the other hand, there appears (in the short studies I have done) to be more eternal and future-tense rewards than immediate rewards to good deeds.
Let's take a look at one example from our study of Proverbs 31. Most of the verses in this chapter have stood alone, but this set seems to be a single paragraph (albeit, still poetry in the Hebrew) speaking of the virtuous woman's reward.
"Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her. Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all. Favor is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her own works praise her in the gates." (vs 28-31)
I am in frequent contact with school-age children, many of them in public schools, and I often get the privilege of discussing (their) ethics with them. A typical response in dealing with them is "why should I do right?" Today's world advocates financial gain at all costs, good grades, and pleasure. Doing right takes effort and is often criticized by their peers and even teachers.
God doesn't say doing right is instantly gratifying or that "the more you do it, the easier it becomes." Instead, He points to the end to ask which is better.
"But what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and loose his own soul?" (Mark 8:36)
The reward of a virtuous woman is praise from her own family as well as political leaders, a good life, satisfaction of a job well done, and pleasing the Lord. These do not come overnight express, but they are worth the work and wait! Many times the reward- the positive consequences for well doing- does not come until late in life, and some, I imagine, not until heaven. Question is, do you value earthly success or heavenly favor?
I find it interesting that psychologist studies have found immediate rewards and long-term consequences are the best way to motivate people, and I wonder how the findings line up with the Bible. Though God does propose long-term consequences to wicked thoughts and deeds, He also mentions that they seem to prosper in the short-term. On the other hand, there appears (in the short studies I have done) to be more eternal and future-tense rewards than immediate rewards to good deeds.
Let's take a look at one example from our study of Proverbs 31. Most of the verses in this chapter have stood alone, but this set seems to be a single paragraph (albeit, still poetry in the Hebrew) speaking of the virtuous woman's reward.
"Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her. Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all. Favor is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her own works praise her in the gates." (vs 28-31)
I am in frequent contact with school-age children, many of them in public schools, and I often get the privilege of discussing (their) ethics with them. A typical response in dealing with them is "why should I do right?" Today's world advocates financial gain at all costs, good grades, and pleasure. Doing right takes effort and is often criticized by their peers and even teachers.
God doesn't say doing right is instantly gratifying or that "the more you do it, the easier it becomes." Instead, He points to the end to ask which is better.
"But what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and loose his own soul?" (Mark 8:36)
The reward of a virtuous woman is praise from her own family as well as political leaders, a good life, satisfaction of a job well done, and pleasing the Lord. These do not come overnight express, but they are worth the work and wait! Many times the reward- the positive consequences for well doing- does not come until late in life, and some, I imagine, not until heaven. Question is, do you value earthly success or heavenly favor?
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