1 Corinthians 2:9 English Standard Version (ESV) But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”

Why doesn’t God show us what He has prepared for us? Some have received knowledge as Paul reports in 2 Corinthians 12; “and he heard things that cannot be told, which man may not utter.”

Paul answers his plight simply with this line: “I refrain from it, so that no one may think more of me than he sees in me or hears from me ….. to keep me from becoming conceited.” That is Paul’s answer to his plight but we are not Paul. Our answers to why not could be different.

This is one of those hidden mysteries which we can only answer for ourselves. Paul’s answer will not fit my plight even if that answer is satisfactory to everyone else.

Proverbs 16:2 English Standard Version (ESV) All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the spirit.

It doesn’t matter what we think of ourselves, God knows us better than we know ourselves. It grieved Peter in his heart to have the Lord ask him over and over again “Do you love me?” It didn’t matter what the Lord was asking Peter to do, it was challenging Peter’s love that troubled Peter.

We say we love the Lord and the expressions of our love are in gratitude for the things God has already done for us. If we knew all that God has prepared for us it might change our motivations. It is so easy to lie to ourselves but we cannot lie to the all-knowing God.

Where in the great commandment does it say to love God for all that He will give you?

My answer to why not is to keep the motivations of my heart pure.

Ecclesiastes 6:9 English Standard Version (ESV) Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the appetite: this also is vanity and a striving after wind.

The eye is instinctively attracted to what we like. The temptation to look cannot be avoided, it is everywhere. It is almost like the eye has a mind of its own, but it was trained to look by a past we should have left behind.

This is one of those confusing proverbs. It is okay to look but don’t desire. The second half of this line reveals God’s truth. It is vanity to think you are looking without having been tempted in the past by those very things. Examine our actions as we go about in the world and ask ourselves the hard questions. Do we have a roving eye? Are we looking for trouble? Do we enjoy the temptation even if we know we will not give in to it?

The KJV ended this proverb with vexation of spirit. The spirit calls you to righteousness and you have not retrained you mind and eye to ignore that which should have died when we were born again.

It is not a sin to be tempted but that doesn’t give us the right to go looking for it.