Contemplative Bible Reading

2 Chronicles 31:10 (New Living Translation)

And Azariah the high priest, from the family of Zadok, replied, “Since the people began bringing their gifts to the Lord’s Temple, we have had enough to eat and plenty to spare. The Lord has blessed his people, and all this is left over.”

In this instance, the people brought gifts to the Temple, and God blessed the people. So, a few questions:

• If I give to God, will He bless me (in the way I expect)?
• If I give to God, will He bless me at all?
• If life is tough, is that because I am not giving enough?
• If life is good, is that because I am good to God?

I think the answer to most of these questions most of the time is, “No.”

Still, the high priests mentions this cause-and-effect situation as a cause-and-effect situation. What am I to conclude (for today with the right to change my mind tomorrow)?