Is Serving The Lord Worth It?

Thrust: Faithful service to the Lord does not make us immune from harsh providence.

I. Four temptations to avoid:
A. Beware of thinking that God's blessings depend upon your goodness, not God's.
B. Beware of thinking that God is punishing you.
C. Beware of forgetting God's blessings.
D. Beware of speaking on the basis of your emotions.

II. God is powerful, loving, wise, and working for our good.

III. Elijah's response:
A. Humbly reasons with God over the death of the child.
B. He questions God; he does not accuse God.

IV. Our Lord is loving; His plan is for the good of His people and His glory.