If, then...

Conditional, personal, causal... 

Sometimes the simplicity in God's word is powerful. 

Consider the following: "My son, if you receive my words and treasure up my commandments with you, making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding; yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God." (Proverbs 2:1-5 ESV)

Make no mistake, operating in wisdom comes with conditions. The above exhortation comes with the little-big word "if". Something happening is conditional on something else happening. Conditional means "subject to one or more conditions or requirements being met; made or granted on certain terms." This passage from Proverbs, then, is saying, "if" you do this, "then" something will happen.

It's also personal; the passage says "...if you..." Someone else cannot meet the conditions. 

It's also causal; the passage says "...if you receive..." For something to be, something has to cause it. 

This passage has three "if you" promises and one huge "then you" reward. The cause of the reward is God. The reward is God. The condition is dependent on YOU. He will if you will. He will be the cause if you will be the recipient. You can receive if you will receive. 

So many don't receive simply because they won't receive. Simple. 

So many don't receive because they refuse the conditions. Simple. 

So many don't receive because they do not believe it's for them. Simple. 

If you, then He will. Will you?