I’ve been thinking a bit about motivations…
It strikes me as odd that Christians aren’t more… motivated.
Of all people, we should have more motivation than anyone! We should be motivated to be excellent — to deal with sin — to look after ourselves — to help people — to do a good job — to be healthy — to be good husbands, wives, parents, friends. I mean, we have all the same motivations for these things as anyone else out there — satisfaction, recognition, natural desires — but more than that, we are promised eternal rewards.
The Hang-Up About Rewards
There’s an interesting hang-up among Christians, which I recognise in myself… any hint that you are motivated by some kind of reward for yourself is frowned upon — as if we should only be concerned for the glory of God, and be motivated purely by that!
But the New Testament authors, and Jesus himself, seem to have no such hang-up?
“Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven.” — Matthew 5:12
“His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’” — Matthew 25:21
“Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” — Luke 12:33–34
“I the LORD search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.” — Jeremiah 17:10
“To an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you.” — 1 Peter 1:4
Imaging God
And perhaps it’s for good reason they don’t shy away from the idea that we will receive a reward. Because we will!
If we, as human beings, are by definition images of God — it follows that when we appropriately image him and acknowledge him, then we are glorifying God — just like Jesus did perfectly! And God is excellent, and good, and holy, and kind, and loving, and pure, and perfect, and thoughtful, and is the source of life and health and wellbeing and joy — so it follows that we should image these attributes like Jesus. The Holy Spirit of God is your key, freely given, freely breathed.
Beyond the Natural Reward
And while yes, that is a reward in and of itself, we are still striving for an unseen reward beyond the natural wonderful consequences of living according to the Spirit — against such things there is no law.
For we will receive a reward that cannot pass away, which is infinitely better than anything this world can offer. The satisfaction and recognition of this world pales in comparison with the satisfaction of fulfilling our God-ordained purpose as humans, and receiving recognition by the God of Everything and His Messiah — the Lord Jesus Christ!
“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” — Colossians 3:23–24