Payoff

(Proverbs 23:29 KJV)  Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes?

It is interesting that this verse is between adultery and drunkenness.  To which is it referring?  My first reaction is that it describes a drunk, but on reflection I can see it also describing the destructive power of sexual sin.  I would be willing to say that in the long run this is a description of the results of most types of sin.

Look at the world around you.  There is a lot of misery and suffering.  How much of it would you say is the result of righteousness and following the commandments of God?  You might see the self righteous fool claiming that the destruction they have caused was according to God’s will, such as the Spanish Inquisition, but when you peel away the layers you find that it is the arrogance of the “servant” that actually causes the pain.

So?  The blessings of obedience start right after your next decision.  They may extend into eternity and have divine blessings attached but it is also very real in this world.