Does Sincere Love Eclipse Our Motivation For Reward?

Serving Christ for the the promise of reward is neither self-serving nor selfish ambition when we understand the true nature of Biblical rewards.  

The Bible is replete with persuasive evidence that the saints of God were motivated by the matchless hope of the Lord's reward to faithful servants.

When we allow the following to shape our thinking, the promise of reward and serving with unfeigned, sincere love for Christ embrace as mutual friends:

#1.   When you consider that we are dependent creatures who “. . . in him we live and move and have our being . . .."(Acts 17:28, NIV);  of whom as Christians, Jesus said,  ". . .  apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5, NIV); and “for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.” (Philippians 2:13, NIV) – would it be appropriate to view "rewards" in terms of our personal achievement?  No, of course not.  So there is a sense that when God rewards your righteousness He is really applauding His grace working in you.

#2.   Consider the opposite of the first point. When man is left to his own the Scripture makes plain that all our righteousness is “. . . are like filthy rags . . .” (Isaiah 64:6, NIV) ; and “. . . when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.’ ”” (Luke 17:10, NIV).   So in the first instance rewards cannot be viewed as achievements, nor can they be viewed as independently earned.  Paul wrote: “But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.” (1 Corinthians 15:10, NIV)

    

#3.  When we view rewards, not as a debt due to us, but a gift given to us in accordance with God's promise -- it changes everything. I think getting a reward in heaven will be like losing all your wrestling matches at the Commonwealth Games and then being invited to stand on the podium during the final ceremonies.  You know, ultimately, it is a gift. To know that increases our motivation and in fact increases are heartfelt love for our Lord.  When we view rewards this way make love and reward friends, not enemies.    The fact is, God does not have to reward us for what we do. Instead, he chooses to and delights to.

#4.   Lastly, heavenly rewards never bring self-glory because they are only a means to an end.  All of God's gifts are to be used for His glory.  In heaven the saints of God receive their crowns of glory – their reward, but they are given because in heaven the rewards find their greatest use – they become instruments of worship.  In Revelation 4:10-11 we read:  "¹⁰ the twenty-four elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying, ¹¹ “Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.”  Crowns are given casting, not for conceit.