Why Bother Being Good?

IRVINE, CA—Saying he doesn’t even feel like trying anymore, 8-year-old Max Bledsoe expressed his strong disappointment Monday after learning that his parents’ love is unconditional. “I always thought they loved me because I’d actually earned it .  .  .  ., 

but unfortunately it turns out that their affection is apparently limitless,” said a frustrated Bledsoe, wondering aloud the point of doing well in school, learning how to play the piano, and always going to bed before 9 p.m. if his parents were just going to keep on loving him no matter what. “Look at me: I just wasted the last three years of my life trying to win their approval by being a good kid. And for what? To get the love that was coming to me anyway?” Bledsoe added that he envied his adopted younger brother, who really has to work for his parents’ love.

Don't be alarmed, this is just  a "news story" from The Onion - a leading internet satire site.  Click Here for the original.

What I find most interesting is that what the Onion sees as satire, I hear from many people who resist the Gospel of God's grace.  I have had adults ask me with a straight face, "Well, if God is going to love me no matter what, why should I bother cleaning up my life?  I'll just keep doing what I want to do."  People are so accustomed to being motivated by greed or guilt that they can't imagine responding to God on the basis of His love.

Of course, God in His love will sometimes let us face the consequences of our misdeeds, as if to give us a comparison for the benefits of His transforming love.  But He never stops loving us.  Never.

The more I've come to face the fullness of that sort of love, the less drawn I've been to the mess of my own life, and the more I've wanted to leave my selfish ways behind.  God's love has conquered more sin in me than my own guilt, greed and effort ever has.

Still, like Max, there are people who find it attractive to think that they are able to earn by their own effort what the Bible says we can only receive by faith.  Or maybe we realize that we need some help to get started, but we still want to finish the race by adding some of our own effort.

Call it what you will, that's not Gospel.