A clarion call throughout the Bible – it is the call for people to serve God (See Ex 23:25, Jn 12:26, Col 3:24, etc.). He has decided to employ people in the expansion of the Kingdom of him. He pays for this service with… eternal rewards. “Behold, I am coming quickly, and my reward is with me” (Ap 22, 12). While there are some clues as to the nature of these rewards, this cannot be meaningfully related to us in our current circumstance. We are sure that they are incorruptible and eternal… but they are also beyond anyone’s comprehension. “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth… but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in or steal” (Mt 6,19,20) and “Not even the eye has not seen, nor has ear heard, nor has mind imagined what God has prepared for those who love him” (1Cor 2:9). It is by faith that one accepts God in this offer. His records are impeccable. Who credits what?
For two summers during college, I sold books door to door. The goal was to maximize work hours, minimize expenses, and send as much cash as possible to company headquarters. Then at the end of the summer, get a big paycheck. Earning eternal rewards has some similar elements. We’re looking for a big payday. “Well done, good slave. Because you have been faithful in a little, have authority over ten cities” (Lk 19, 17).
The case for ruling out “rights” to eternal rewards for anyone is pretty strong. For starters, “Salvation is of the Lord” (Jonah 2:9). While Jonah was probably referring to deliverance from the belly of the great fish, even those with a cursory biblical knowledge know that “it is the escape of death from the Lord God” (Psalm 68:20). Our most urgent need is deliverance from the deaths of sin: all three; spiritual, physical and eternal. But, on our own initiative, “there is no one who seeks God” (Rom 3, 11). Jesus said: “No one can come to me unless the Father who feels me draws him” (Jn 6:44). The Bible is clear on this matter. Dozens of verses support this. If you think you’re going to stand before God and say, “Yes, I woke up one day and I knew I needed you in my life. I started reading the Bible and found out who Jesus was and what that meant. So I decided to accept it, and I. ..I…I…” Let me put it this way. If he thinks that he designed his faith and his understanding of the things of God, he has deceived himself. So does such a person have “rights” to eternal rewards?
But, even as Christians, we cannot claim full credit for our service. We become “fellow workers with God” and each receives “his own reward according to his own work” (1 Corinthians 3:8, 9). But, deep down in our volunteer service, we find these affirmations: “We are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10) and “God is who works in you both to will and to do, according to his own good will” (Philippians 2:13). So, God prepares jobs for us and motivates us towards them… and even gives us spiritual abilities (gifts or aptitudes – 1Cor 12 :4-31)…and then gives us eternal rewards for cooperating?
Mind you… we “should” walk into these prepared opportunities. But, in an exercise of free will, we can stupidly choose otherwise. John told his audience: “Take heed to yourselves…(so) that you may receive a full reward” (2Jn 8).
All who receive even an eternal reward will recognize that they do not deserve it. It is He “who gives life to the dead and calls to be what is not” (Rom 4:17). He not only makes us “alive with Him” (Col 2:13), but then strengthens our efforts for Him…so that real spiritual progress can occur. He is “God who makes grow” (1Cor 3,7).
So, are there “conditions” that one must meet in order to be used by God and thus receive eternal rewards? Well, John wouldn’t have urged his audience to “take care…(so) you can be fully rewarded” if these rewards were automatic. Jesus would not have warned the evil slave that he “hid” his talent…unless we could do the same (Mt 25, 14-30). In Revelation, he admonished the churches to “repent…be faithful…overcome…resist” and the rewards would follow (Revelation 2:5, 10, 17, 25). Paul warned Christians to build correctly on the foundation, since the fire “will test the quality of each one’s work”: some efforts end in eternal reward and others in flames (1 Corinthians 3:10, 13-15). So, here are some points.
Being used by God is moment by moment, event by event, transaction. God is not obligated to use everything a Christian does. An individual must actively maintain relationship with God, in actions and reactions. His will must be sought and one must be considered by Him as ready to be used. This privilege is never granted. It is an undeserved honor to be used by God, even once in this life. One’s educational level, titles, or publicly ordained positions have no effect on the God of the Bible in this matter. He employs individuals based on his current position…with one’s heart being the measure. For example, while there are many sins that move a person into an “inactive” state with Him, one that God hates…is pride. “If anyone believes something, and being nothing, he deceives himself” (Gal 6, 3). Pride is often a very subtle evil that remains undetected until some event brings it to light (just ask Job). So, one is in a “season” of self-examination and corrective action…before God can unfold it. In this matter, “God shows no respect of persons.” (Paul said this of the other apostles “who were of great reputation”! Rest assured, when Peter and Barnabas were operating on their pride, that chapter of their Christian lives only produced fuel for the fire. [Gal 2:6-9]). Do you think that God is somehow obligated to eternally reward error and impure motives, known or unknown to the perpetrator, and expand his kingdom thereby?
But what if there is a group of Christians, say, a local church, that represents God? Are you obligated to use and reward your efforts? Or are their activities weighed moment by moment, event by event… as is done with the individual?
Let’s see it this way. Have you ever heard this one? “How will the church bills be paid if you don’t give?” Well, there are two assumptions behind this question/statement. First, the activities of that church are being used by God, and second, the people in the pews are responsible for the accounts of that church. But… God is using that place now? Even if he has in the past, that doesn’t mean he is now…and the present is all that matters. This basic question – in fact, this basic test – is always present and relevant. And what about those bills? Well, we already know of at least one place that God had inhabited and then abandoned. Somewhere around AD 35. C., he left the Holy of Holies in the Temple of Jerusalem … never to return. Of course, people still came to the Temple, and it was populated with priests, councils, and all kinds of religious ceremonies for another 35 years. During that time… all the bills from that “ministry” kept coming. Did those “investments” by those “parishioners” end up in eternal rewards?
If individuals or groups want to invest in your ministry(ies), they must look primarily to God Himself to impress potential donors on the validity of their cause. God is quite capable of doing that, and he has no need for coercion or manipulation. He just opens his eyes…and those eyes see and respond to eternal opportunity.
In my own personal melting pot, I have come to some determinations. One is this: “Lord, I would rather be used by You once in my remaining days, than have a life of plastic ‘achievement’: to pursue what I think, or what others think, must be done.” This requires effort to seek God on such a level… but what is the alternative? Fuel for the fire?