The person who really loves God seeks no other reward than to love God for who He is. Here’s an example: There are three men who go running faithfully every day. When asked why they run consistently every day they each had a different response. The first man answered, ”I run because my father died of a heart attack at fifty-one and I want to live long enough to retire and see my grandchildren grow up.” The second man said, “I run every day so I can eat anything I want and still not gain weight. Running also helps me sleep soundly at night.” The third said, “When I run, my legs soar over the ground, the wind brushes my face, my heart beats like a slow, heavy thunder in my chest, and I feel alive!”

The first man runs out of fear. The second runs for the benefits it gives him. But for the third man running is its own reward. The first two men love health, food, and sleep, and running is the instrument they use to gain what they desire. Many Christians are just like the first two men when it comes to obeying God. Lots of folks obey God in order to avoid what they fear, or to gain what they desire. Only a few serve God with a pure, sincere and willing heart, and seek, above all else, God himself. Isaiah 1:19 NKJV: “If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land.”