A 2010 study proves this in regard to sexual purity.
The study, published in the Journal of Family Psychology and reported on by livescience.com says that those who delayed having sex had better relationships. Those who were sexually intimate early on in the relationship had poor outcomes within the relationship.
It appears that establishing a committed relationship before intercourse results in better sex and a better relationship.
This is no surprise within scripture. Obedience to sexual purity does lead to healthier relationships. The blessings don't stop there, however: healthier relationships lead to healthier family units, which raise up relationally healthy children who go on to better society. Obedience to this one area of sexual purity results in a snowball of blessings, from the parents to their children to the nation.
The Bible relays other examples of this obedience-to-blessing connection. When Daniel and his friends obeyed God's specific law to eat only certain foods, they were blessed with better health and alertness than their peers. They became beacons pointing to God in anti-Jehovah Babylon.
When Abraham obeyed God's command to leave the only home he knew and go to a strange land, he was blessed with a great family, wealth, and incomparable intimacy with God. His descendants, the Israelites, provided an example to the world of God's great love and pursuit.
Blessings Always?
So does obedience always result in blessings? Yes, though a few misconceptions exist about blessings these days. Two of these misconceptions are listed below:
One misconception is that some spin the idea of obedience resulting in blessings and boast about their blessings suggesting that they have favor with God. But, this isn't always true. The Israelite kings had great status and wealth, but many were disobedient and evil.
Proverbs clearly states the proper perception we can take in such circumstances (when the disobedient appear to be "blessed"): Prov 23:17-18: Do not let your heart envy sinners, but always be zealous for the fear of the LORD. There is surely a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off. NIV.
This scripture is illustrated through the story of the prodigal son in Luke 15. The brother complained about how faithfully he has toiled for his father without seeing his return, yet the younger brother received his blessing inheritance, left, and was celebrated when he returned.
The older son felt slighted. Was there no reward, or blessing, for his obedience? "Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders," he lamented. "Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!" (NIV)
The father assured the older son that his blessings were secure. "Everything I have is yours," the father said. This was difficult to grasp for the older son. He spent his days toiling, not partying. Yet his blessings were large and secure, whether he saw them or not. In the same way, the inheritance of those that love the Lord are safe a secure and much of the things that the Lord has for us are unimaginable.
This is priceless to understand for anyone struggling to understand that God is always just and He will indeed reward those that love Him as He promised.
Another misconception lies in one's definition of the word "blessing." My grandma reminded me of this often as a child. "Did you thank God for your eyes and teeth today?" she said when we greeted.
Rarely do we count such daily assets as blessings from God. Also, Matthew 6:19 refer to storing up treasures (or blessings) in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, instead of counting stock in earthly things. God's blessings may not come in cars which rust, money which gets spent, or houses which rot.
In fact, the best blessings on earth may come in the form of strong character, a burden lifted, and hope renewed. But there are much greater blessings beyond this which won't be seen on earth because they're stored up in heaven.
Those who are defending Jesus Christ in some of the most difficult circumstances have hope in such eternal rewards. Their homes may have been destroyed, their families may have been captured or killed, and their bodies may have been afflicted, but blessings abound.
"Rachael," a teenager featured in the Voice of the Martyrs newsletter this spring, learned this lesson at an age when most of us in America are focused on acquiring friends and toys. At age 14 she was was arrested for sharing the gospel with children. While in jail, she was reminded of Psalm 24:4-5, which says, "The one who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not trust in an idol or swear by a false god. They will receive BLESSING from the LORD and vindication from God their Savior." (NIV-emphasis added)
She was beaten, tortured, but continued sharing the gospel in jail. She was blessed, and this was how: "The time the Lord allowed me to be in prison was like making my life new again. It made me really strong and bold in the Word of God," she said.
Blessing sprung from her obedience. Blessings spring from our obedience. Don't make the mistake the older brother did when he compared his stack next to his prodigal brother's. By fixing your eyes on the Giver instead of the gift, you will acquire the desire and need to obey, and can trust that you will be delightfully blessed-- if not here on earth, than one day in heaven.
I leave you to ponder these verses.
"But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." Matthew 6:33 NIV
“Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart." Psalm 37:4 NIV