The Why of Religion

Every religion has as its primary reason for existence promotion and increase. The secondary reasons are related to the desires of the adherents: power, wisdom, knowledge, self-control, protection from evil, and a list of others.

Yahweh has a different agenda: reconciliation of humanity to Himself. The secondary benefits include much promotion and increase. Our relationship with Him can draw us up to righteousness and manifestation of His character and purpose.

He wants to burden us with the power to love what He loves, and hate what He hates. He wants to yoke us to the burdens He gives us with the power to change our environments, so that what He loves prospers and increases, and what He hates dies and is buried. His yoke is easy and His burden is light.

And I pray this: that your love will keep on growing in knowledge and every kind of discernment, so that you can determine what really matters and can be pure and blameless in the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.
(Philippians 1:9-11 HCSB ©®)