Yesterday we learned that there are (at least) three major categories of faith highlighted in the Scriptures and that they often correspond to different seasons of our lives as Christians. Today, I want to look in more detail at the first one of those types of faith — the faith of propriety.

The faith of propriety holds that because you do everything right, God will come through for you. In other words, because you have been wise, asked for advice, and/or followed a list of prescribed rules, the Lord will do what He said He would do on your behalf. This is the kind of faith that Job had at the beginning of his story; he honored God, sacrificed for God, and worshipped Him in all things, so he expected that God would come through for him. Interestingly, it was his faith of propriety that the devil came after when he first began to attack Job. Why? Because the enemy figured that the only reason his faith was so great was because God had given him everything he needed and wanted in response to his faithfulness. Of course, those of you who know the story know that Job’s faith ultimately transcended such shallow simplicity, much to the devil’s dismay. Nevertheless, the faith of propriety is an expectation of the Lord’s response to our goodness, and though it’s certainly not an ideal way to believe, He still honors it.

Friend, the faith of propriety is a rite of passage for believers. God may very well bless you for doing everything right; He often responds to the faithful obedience of His children. However, it’s important to remember that as your journey of trust deepens and matures, you will outgrow this faith of weight and measures. Though it may visit you from time-to-time, a day will come when you will be challenged to trust Him even when things don’t go your way. Believing in the lovingkindness of God despite external circumstances will bless you, strengthen you, and enable you to live a joy-filled life, regardless of what you go through! Isn’t that wonderful news?