Brownie Points

Brownie Points

After the Lord your God has driven them out before you, do not say to yourself, "The Lord has brought me here to take possession of this land because of my righteousness."
Deuteronomy 9:4 NIV

My wife gains the admiration of many people by serendipity. She doesn't exactly go and look for it, but she acquires their affection with food. One dinner or a dessert and she has scored major brownie points and secured that person’s most sincere allegiance. One taste of her food and in their eyes, she can do no wrong.

Do you think you have earned brownie points with God? Have you ever tried? I bet you have, I know I have. I think I am getting on God's good side when I put my check in the collection plate or when I spend my time in service to God and church. Spiritual shortsightedness makes me think that it is even possible to earn anything with God. I can't earn His love, I already have it. In fact, His love has been Crazy Glued all over me! There isn't anything that can separate me from His love (Romans 8:38-39). I can't earn a right standing with God, Jesus already has that covered. In fact, we can't expect anything from God based on our own righteousness because we haven't any, outside that which has been given to us from Christ (2 Corinthians 5:21 / 1 Corinthians 1:30).

We can't acquire any brownie points with God because there are none to be had. God does not show favoritism (Romans 2:11 NIV). The Lord blesses us because of His justice and righteousness alone.