One thing I love about reading the Bible is coming upon passages that are directly spoken by God and just show his power, and yet his love. I love reading his commands for us and the promises that accompany them, like in Deuteronomy 6.
“These are the commands, decrees and laws the LORD your God directed me to teach you to observe in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess, so that you, your children and their children after them may fear the LORD your God as long as you live by keeping all his decrees and commands that I give you, and so that you may enjoy long life.”
See it starts with saying these are the commands, and then it says why you should follow them. It’s not “obey these commands because otherwise something bad will happen.” It’s obey these commands so that I can reward you with a long life among other things. Then in verse 5-9 it says “Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.
This is showing that you have to apply it. Don’t just read it and dismiss it, discuss it, write it places, talk about it, think about it, and definitely don’t ignore it. Then it says more reasons to obey his commands
“Do not follow other gods, the gods of the peoples around you; 15 for the LORD your God, who is among you, is a jealous God and his anger will burn against you, and he will destroy you from the face of the land.”
So that would be another reason to obey, not just to get rewards, but so he doesn’t destroy you!
And still more reason
“Do what is right and good in the LORD’s sight, so that it may go well with you and you may go in and take over the good land”
Seriously obeying God is not to be taken lightly. He will reward you in Heaven if you obey, and on earth. He will destroy you if you don’t obey, or at least he has the power to. So why would you want to disobey?