At this, the guardian-redeemer said, “Then I cannot redeem it because I might endanger my own estate. You redeem it yourself. I cannot do it” Ruth 4:6

The conditions God attaches to His promises to receive His blessings can be hard to fulfill. However, if we accept these conditions, we can look forward to the promised reward. 

We cannot expect the blessings of God’s promises without fulfilling His righteous conditions. The world can hide the fine print of its contracts, but God does not conceal His requirements to His promises. He has clearly stated them so that our obedience may bless us. 

God set the Levitical Law on promises, conditions, and fulfillment. The fundamental tenet of God’s relationship with Israel throughout the Old Testament was that if His people obey His commands and decrees, He will bless them. 

You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations, you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites (Exodus 19:4-6).

Again, he says:

If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land (2 Chronicles 7:14).

The same principle governs our walk with Christ in this dispensation of grace. 

Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them (John 14:23).

Why do we love the promises of God but struggle with the conditions that come with them?

Maybe it is because sometimes, we find them too difficult to obey. Other times, we think they are unfair and unfavorable to our welfare. Another reason could be that we consider God’s righteous requirements as infringements upon our wills and the delights we are unwilling to surrender. But are they? Do they not instead deliver us from our selfishness and wicked ways that condemn us before Him?

It is helpful to realize that God has designed the conditions of His promises to sanctify us and make us more like Jesus. The more we yield to them, the more fruitful we become (John 15:5).

May we not be like the Kinsman-redeemer in the Ruth story, who gave away his right to Elimelech’s land because of the condition that came with it (Ruth 4:2-8) and missed a place in the lineage of Christ (Matt. 1:5).