Wednesday, 02 December 2009

• Reward or Punishment: What is Our Motivation?

  I urge you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.
  -- Romans 12:1
  
  After 11 chapters of doctrine Paul finally moves on to what we should do with all that we have now heard. This might not hit you at first but what we really need to see in this (beyond just the words) is how important doctrine is in the life of a Christian. Is your thinking self centered or Christ centered? To find out I ask this question... What is the motivation for service in a Christian life?

  Is it fear of punishment?

  Is it hope of a heavenly reward?

  If either of these are the thrust of your works done in the name of Christ then you may be lacking true salvation. I first want to say that I in no way intend to say that anyone who is seeking a reward is un-saved. My statement was “you MAY be”. I am a strong proponent of always examining ourselves to see if we are truly in the faith. The difference I think is this. The type of reward seeking I am exhorting against is that of greed and excess. If a person is working so that he/she can receive more in Heaven; then they need to examine their motives.

  Matthew 5:12 speaks of the reward as something we have. My works or good deeds will not get me something more, or help me to sustain my place. I am saved. I have a reward. I will walk in all the good works that God has ordained for me to walk in (Eph 2:10). Therefore my motivation is not one of trying to work my way up the “corporate ladder“, but one of sincere gratitude from a renewed mind. God has promised me the reward not because of what I have done but rather because of who I am in Christ.

  I do not work or serve that I might be counted worthy in the judgment and avoid punishment in Hell. Nor do I serve that I might be given many things or rewarded beyond measure in Heaven. I serve because my heart is filled with gratitude for all that Christ has done for me "the sinner". I was without hope! I was lost! This is why Paul states “by the mercies of God”, we should do this. We have been shown such great mercy that if we have received Christ as Lord and truly understand what we are saved from our hearts will overflow with thankfulness. Beloved, this section of scripture is not about having to work for anything. It is about worship in it’s truest sense! A pouring out of oneself as an act of “spiritual worship” over all that has been done for you. Paul is saying that this is the natural or “reasonable” effect that will come from one who has been transformed by the Spirit of God. Theologically stated, our motivation for holy living is the result, not the cause of our salvation."

  If I am motivated by reward alone, I am no more than an animal, a "beast" as Peter calls them in 2 Peter 2:12. The motivation for my life in Christ is this: pleasing the Father out of gratitude for what He's done... by the leading of the Holy Spirit. This is the only pure motivation there is. Want verses? "All our righteousness is as filthy rags." "Not my will, but thine be done." Numerous places in Acts where the Holy Spirit specifically leads Paul and Peter in what to do next. The mere fact that people pray at all (which in Scripture is to petition and discern the will of the God that we may walk in it, not the cultural mindset today of a Heavenly Santa Claus). "Paul, a bondservant of Christ." "I am the Vine, you are the branches. He who abides in me bears much fruit." Clearly the branch does not try to bear much fruit in order to receive more from the vine? Now I am aware of the premise that a person may be placed in charge of more or less because of what they have done with their gifts but again I ask "What is the motivation"? Gain? Or serving from love and gratitude?
  

  If your doctrine is off; you will have answered the questions I asked above with a “yes” or “I suppose”. Beloved, don’t be disheartened! If you are in Christ, (that is trusting on His works and His righteousness in order to stand before God) you need not fear punishment in Hell... Ever! You have eternal life! And Heaven will be your reward! If you are having trouble finding this gratitude in your heart and the sense of joy that comes with it, I suggest that you go read a section of scripture that deals with the requirements of the law and what God requires of man in order to attain salvation! Then think upon how you are saved in Christ Jesus because He has clothed you in His righteousness! Amen and Amen.

  What do you feel is your motivation for living a Christian life?

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