God Favors the Faithful

By Ronnie Lowe

“In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. But in every nation whoever fears him, and works righteousness is accepted by him” (Acts 10:34-35).

In the book of Haggai, God promised the Jews present help: “I am with you, says the Lord” (Haggai 1:13). This help, however, came only after seventy years of captivity (606-536 B.C.). The captivity was not only a punishment, but also a way to correct them. Haggai’s purpose was to get them back to the task of rebuilding the temple (a task that they had neglected for fifteen or sixteen years). God promised that if they would faithfully do their work, He would be glad to take pleasure in them. They returned to work and finished rebuilding the temple (Ezra 5:1; 6:14-15).

You and I today can enjoy the blessings and favor of God. But we can do so only by being faithful to His commands. “For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world -- our faith” (1 John 5:4). Haggai urged the people to be strong and to continue the work. If they did so, they had the guarantee that God would be with them. We have a similar promise today. God has promised, “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5). The apostle Paul writes, “If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31). Jesus has given us the promise, “I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20).

Whether or not we enjoy the blessings of God depends upon us. Those blessings are available to everyone, but can only be enjoyed by the faithful.