We tend to emphasise that we are saved by grace alone so that we cannot boast in our works and this has tended to result in a dismissal or downplay of the suggestion that good lives here can affect our experience of eternal life and the extent to which we will be rewarded in heaven. However, some Christians have sought to argue that in fact, what we do here will affect our eternal experience, that there are degrees of judgement for those who go to Hell and degrees of reward for those who receive eternal life with Christ.
Some have picked up on Paul’s comments in 1 Corinthians 3:12-15 where he says:
“12 If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, 13 their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. 14 If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. 15 If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames.”
Now, Paul’s focus here seems to be primarily on those responsible for teaching and leading, so that we are not meant to see a two tier Christianity at work. However, there still seems to be the implication that, at least pastors, and if them, surely others can expect degrees of reward depending on their stewardship here.
Then there are parables such as the one about the servants and their varying levels of stewardship with the talents or money they have been given. Those who steward what they have received well are given more in proportion to what they have stewarded whilst the one who is disobedient and lazy even has his one talent removed from him.
On the other hand, there is the parable of the servants who are called to work in the master’s field at different times of day but receive the same pay. Does this push back against the concept of reward?
I think it is helpful to consider two things here. First, we need to look at the specific intent of each Scripture, especially when handling parables. Some parables emphasise that there are consequences to how we live now, eternal consequences. Others emphasise that we are not meant to think of these mechanistically or legalistically.
The other thing we need to consider is what exactly we mean by reward and how is that reward experienced in our life after death. This means that we need to be careful about language which describes us going to heaven and receiving a reward. We may then end up thinking legalistically and indeed, materialistically. If we think of “heaven” as an ethereal/spirit afterworld then we may be tempted to think in terms of material like rewards which will make eternity tolerable for us.
Yet, that’s not how Scripture portrays life after death. We are meant to think in terms of new creation, a solid, wonderful, joy filled, abundant, real place with Jesus. We don’t need the promise of additional rewards to motivate us to get there or help us survive. Yes, life with Jesus in his new creation is reward and motive enough.
However, this helps us to see better how good stewardship and godly living is rewarded in that kind of new creation. Think about how the apostles in their letters ask their readers to make their joy complete. There is a sense in which godly work here will be rewarded by deeper, greater joy there.
So, there is the reward we will receive from our efforts at evangelism and discipleship. That reward will be the people we have evangelised and discipled themselves. It will be the joy of seeing them there, made complete in Christ and to see their joy. Of course, there is a sense in which that joy will be greater for those who have given more time and effort, worked hard and focused on true and lasting discipleship simply because there will be more believers there for them to rejoice in and with.
I think too that if we think of New Creation in terms of continuity from this creation, then there is a sense in which, if we have obeyed the cultural mandate to fill and subdue the world and if we have done that in a godly way, so that there is fruit that lasts from our work and culture, then there will be much more of that for us to enjoy and so even greater delight.
When we think in those terms, I believe we can avoid legalism whilst recognising the real and joyful motivation that there is for holy, devoted life now.
Faithroots 