I Don’t Deserve This

God exacteth of thee less than thine iniquity deserveth. —Job 11:6

Growing up in the late 1950‘s our family enjoyed watching the Jack Benny Show. Jack Benny was one of the most successful comedians of the last century. He was known for his dry sense of humor, his straight face,  and his stage persona as a tightwad. In real life, he was actually a very generous man. Benny once received an award and said, “I really don’t deserve this award. But then I have arthritis, and I really don’t deserve that either!”

Have you ever gone through a difficult circumstance where you felt, “What did I do to deserve this?”  Do you think Joseph may have asked this question after his own brother’s sold him into Egypt as a slave? Do you think this question may have crossed Job’s mind after he lost every thing?

Much of the negative treatment we receive may not be what you deserve, but nevertheless it is still your problem for living in a sinful world.  If you’re looking for someone to blame for having arthritis, look at Adam.

The truth is, any treatment we get this side of hell is better than we deserve.  Even the “bad stuff” that happens in our life ain’t really “bad” when you take Romans 8:28 into account.

God richly blessed that conniving deceiver Jacob. Jacob confessed that he didn’t deserve God’s blessings, “I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies” (Gen. 32:10).  Neither are we, so let’s not whine when we are handed a “raw deal” in life.  Remember, God always does right (Gen. 18:25).