DEFERRING GRATIFICATION!
2 Peter 1:3-8 KJV
INTRODUCTION: In days gone by education was based entirely upon the foundational principles of virtue. It was thought in many nations that if a young person had obtained virtue, they had already achieved life’s highest pursuit. In our nation in the 18th and 19th centuries the primary foundation of all education was the training of young people to be virtuous. Also in our nation the standard upon which virtue was measured was having a Godlike character.
I. VIRUTE OUR PRIMARY GOAL!
We claim as a nation to be “One nation under God!” And what has God called all His followers to? Glory and virtue! 2 Peter 1:3. How does the Word of God say we attain glory and virtue? Through our knowledge of God! 2 Peter 1:4. The study we call theology we learn about our God as we study His Word: Ephesians 1:15-19. Beyond just the foundation of faith and love, there is much more the Lord longs to give us. We need the spirit of wisdom and revelation of the knowledge of Jesus Christ. Godly wisdom is the ability to live skillfully in this life so as to glorify our God whatever happens in our lives: Proverbs 8:11-12; 1 Corinthians 2:9-12. Our Lord Jesus said: John 10:10. We need desperately to have the Spirit of God but it does not come cheap!
II. THE COSTS OF A VIRTUOUS LIFE!
The cost of a virtuous life is deferring gratification. That truth used to be well understood in our nation. Almost everyone understood that ultimate success in any endeavor would mean sacrifice. Our grandparents understood that truth. Sadly many in our nation no longer follow that wisdom. We have lost the wisdom today of delayed gratification. We live in an age today where we cannot stand to wait for anything. 1 Timothy 6:6-8. Even our government today cannot stand to put off instant gratification. Proverbs 1:7. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom but very few in our nation today truly even know what the fear of the Lord is. The good news even for today is that the fear of the Lord can be taught and the fear of the Lord can be learned: Psalm 34:6-11.
III. THE REWARDS OF THE VIRTUOUS LIFE!
With immediate gratification I instantly feel, see, hear, taste or feel my reward. Walking in the fear of the Lord and becoming virtuous like my Lord is very different. The rewards of a spiritual nature are not always tangible. They are often invisible and others cannot hear them, smell them, touch them or taste them. But as we continue to learn to wait on the Lord those blessings begin to grow, slowly almost without notice: James 1:22-25; Psalm 27:14. Sadly today so many don’t care about God’s work in their hearts. What they want is results in their lives that can be seen. Isaiah 40:31. We don’t want strength of character in our lives—we want an immediate answer to our felt needs of things. Today because we have not learned to trust our Lord we want solutions, not spiritual growth. We want action, not promises! Isaiah 55:8-9, 11. Here is how our God works: Ephesians 3:14-19; 2 Peter 1:3-8: as we add virtue, knowledge will also be added unto us. Moral character cannot grow without the expense of deferring gratification. Mark 10:28-30. A hundred-fold increase is 10,000 percent increase on investment! Is that worth waiting on the Lord for? Hebrews 6:11-12. Do you believe it is worth delayed gratification to gain the virtue of living your life like Jesus Christ lived His life?