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| Readers of my books often question whether the doctrine of eternal rewards is biblical. They say, It seems self-centered to do good works so I will be rewarded. |
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By Randy Alcorn
We have so emphasized the idea of never acting
in our own self-interest, that we ignore the continuous appeals of Scripture to
be motivated by the fact that following our Lord is not only right, but smart.
And sin is not only wrong, but stupid.
Read the blessings and curses of Deuteronomy.
Read the wisdom and foolishness passages that
pervade Proverbs.
Satan has conned many Christians into a view of
the Christian life that makes us imagine God calls us to do things that won't
be good for us (while the unbelievers are out there having all the fun).
In fact, that which is for God's glory is for
our good. Always for our long-term, eternal good.
Now, in the meantime it will bring some peace
and contentment, but it might also involve persecution or death.
When people asked what I
thought of praying the prayer of Jabez, my response was, "I think
it's great, as long as you realize that God may expand your borders through
martyrdom."
But Scripture is full of references to the
rewards of martyrs, so their faithful service ends up in their best interests.
(This isn't health and wealth gospel — which
focuses on short-term pay-offs. In fact sometimes it may seem like sickness and
poverty gospel; yet in the end God always rewards what has honored Him.)
Consider missionary martyr Jim
Elliot's words: "He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to
gain what he cannot lose."
But they couldn't be more wrong.
Reread his words and you see that the whole
point is, Jim Elliot was seeking gain!
What separated him from the common Christian
wasn't that he didn't want gain, but that he wanted gain that would last. (And
his pursuit of gain was in a way that was Christ-centered.)
This is what John Piper calls "Christian
hedonism."
We are called to be pleasure seekers, but to
find our pleasures in God. A God who always rewards.
(Yet Satan tries to convince us that thoughts of
reward are inherently unspiritual, making God our Tempter rather than our
Generous Father who delights in our enjoyment of Him and what He graciously
gives us.)
Jesus commands us to "store
up for yourselves treasures in heaven."
Well, it cannot be wrong to do that or he
wouldn't have commanded it. God does not tempt us to do wrong.
Paul says we should labor for
rewards: "Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but
only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who
competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that
will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever" (1 Corinthians 9:24-25).
Paul assures Christians, "God
will give to each person according to what he has done" (Romans 2:6).
He says, "Let us
not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest
if we do not give up" (Galatians 6:9).
He says, "Because
you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does, whether
he is slave or free" (Ephesians 6:8).
Paul rejoices because, "The
time has come for my departure. I have fought the good fight, I have finished
the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of
righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that
day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing" (2 Timothy 4:6-8).
Paul delights in the reward he will receive in
fellowship with the Thessalonian Christians in whom he invested his life.
"For what is our hope,
our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus
when he comes? Is it not you?" (1 Thessalonians 2:19)
He calls the Philippians "my
brothers, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown" (Philippians 4:1).
None of this is wrongly motivated, for none of
it minimizes the fact that Christ Himself is our greatest treasure.
We are to want rewards because it pleases Him to
give them to us... and what pleases our Father should give us delight.
Randy Alcorn (@randyalcorn) is the author of
fifty-some books and
the founder and director of Eternal Perspective Ministries.
https://www.epm.org/blog/2008/Nov/13/motivated-by-eternal-reward
In My Father's House
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