Both efforts and results count

Paul had a lot to say to the believers in Corinth about eternal rewards.

He was attempting to end an argument over which Bible teacher they should hold in highest regard.  Some advocated for a man named Apollos, another group for Paul, and some for Peter.  Instead of taking sides, Paul points them to something higher up and more important than the name of their favorite preacher:

1 Corinthians 3:5-7
What then is Apollos?  What is Paul?  They are servants through whom you believed, and each has the role the Lord has given.  I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth.  So, then, neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God who give the growth.

Pretty clear analogy here.  Putting a seed in the ground or putting water on the seed is small stuff compared to the actual growth of the seed.  That’s the miracle of life, and eternal life is only given to us by God when we believe in Jesus.

Many Christians stop reading the passage here.  However, Paul continues the analogy and provides us with an incredible insight into eternal rewards:

1 Corinthians 3:8-9
Now he who plants and he who waters are one [i.e. – united in purpose], and each will receive his own reward according to his own labor.  For we are God’s coworkers.  You are God’s field, God’s building.

Although all credit goes to the One who gives life and designed it for growth, God will give each coworker his own reward.  Apollos and Paul are servants, but God will reward them according to his own labor – how well they have fulfilled the work God has given them to do.  In this analogy, the Corinthian church is God’s field…and Paul also calls them God’s building.  Switching to the “builder” analogy, Paul shows them that they can be rewarded, too:

1 Corinthians 3:10-11
According to God’s grace that was given to me, I have laid a foundation as a skilled master builder, and another builds on it.  But each one is to be careful how he builds on it.  For no one can lay any foundation other than what has been laid down.  That foundation is Jesus Christ.

Just as Paul “planted” in the farming analogy, he is the master builder laying down the foundation of Jesus Christ for them to build on.  Then Paul warns them – be careful how you build:

1 Corinthians 3:12-15
If anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay, or straw, each one’s work will become obvious.  For the day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire; the fire will test the quality of each one’s work.

If anyone’s work that he has built survives, he will receive a reward.  If anyone’s work is burned up, he will experience loss, but he himself will be saved – but only as through fire.

Most of the New Testament is instruction for how believers can live their lives according to God’s design…how to grow and how to build.  God will look at our life’s work and evaluate what we have done in comparison to the time He has given us. 

For the times we’ve partnered with Him, we’ll find eternal rewards that are valued much like we currently value gold, silver, and costly stones.  For all the work we’ve done selfishly, we’re only storing up wood, hay, and straw.  Both will be evaluated…and the quality of each one’s work will be determined.  And here is the promise: if what we built survives, then we will receive a reward.  And if God called His initial creation “good”, then sign me up for what He considers a reward!

Don’t be confused – this judgment isn’t to determine who goes to heaven and who doesn’t…this evaluation for eternal rewards is only for those who have believed in Jesus for eternal life.  Paul made that clear when he said that those whose work does not survive, while he will experience loss [of receiving a reward], he himself will be saved. 

This isn’t to say there will be “second class citizens” in heaven, either.  However, it is clear that God intends to reward those partner with Him in this life.  So, we gotta ask ourselves…

Am I spending my time and effort on actions with eternal value, or will my activities leave me at a loss?

If you don’t like your answer, then today is a good day to choose differently.

Keep Pressing,
Ken

It’s not going fast enough

Last weekend, I put a lot of work into our lawn.  I borrowed a friend’s lawn tractor and pull-behind aerator.  I methodically drove all over our grass, pulling up plugs of dirt.  There are many benefits to doing this – improved drainage; loosening of any compacted soil; allowing water, air, and nutrients to penetrate deeper into the soil; and the stimulation of grass root development so you have a thicker, healthier lawn.  After aerating, I then spread grass seed, fertilizer, and lime.  It was several hours of effort to do all this work, even on our small-size lot.  I definitely felt a bit tired that evening, and even had a little arm soreness the next day due to pushing the spreader for laps around our grass.

On Monday, I was looking out one of our back windows at the lawn, feeling a little pride in the effort I had given over the previous days.  I then jokingly quipped to my wife, “Why don’t I see any grass yet?  I put in all that work, why hasn’t it all grown up by now?”

Although my questions were asked with my tongue firmly in my cheek, there was a little bit of familiarity to the impatient feeling that I was mocking.  How many times do we begin to put in effort on long-term projects, only to quit out of frustration that we’re not seeing results fast enough?  How many of these sound familiar?

·       I lifted weights this morning, how come my biceps aren’t bigger and stronger?
·       I ate a super healthy salad for lunch, why don’t I see my abs?
·       I’ve been putting money all year into my retirement account, how come it isn’t fully funded yet?

Ok, so maybe you’re not that impractical.  Let’s try these, instead:

·       No matter how many times I talk to my daughter, she still struggles.  I don’t know what to do next.
·       Being fully open and honest with our customers is cutting into our bottom line.  Maybe I don’t have to tell them everything.
·       I’m tired of taking care of things around the house without being recognized or appreciated.  Maybe I’ll just quit doing it until someone notices.

When we don’t see an immediate return on our efforts, it’s easy to want to throw in the towel and coast.  And, short-term, there may not be any immediate consequences.  However, we need to take the long-term view to see clearly…and I’m not talking about a decades-long viewpoint, either.  By “long-term” we need to be viewing life from an eternal perspective.

I find it interesting that Paul says this to the believers in Galatia:

Galatians 6:2
Carry one another’s burdens; in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.

He then says a few verses later:

Galatians 6:9-10
Let us not get tired of doing good, for we will reap at the proper time if we don’t give up.  Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us work for the good of all, especially for those who belong to the household of faith.

The law of Christ refers back to Jesus stating the greatest commandment – to love God and love others as yourself (Mark 12:29-31).  We fulfill Jesus’ expectation of His followers as we take care of one another. 

The incredible thing is that Jesus doesn’t just tell us to do this “Because He said so”.  Instead, we will reap a reward from God as a result of following Jesus’ example.  While some people have recoiled at this, claiming it’s improper to think that God would have to “bribe” us to do good things.  To that line of thought, I would simply ask: “Do you not reward your children for a job well done?  Do you bless them and give them greater opportunities as they show themselves capable and worthy?”  God is treating us in the same manner.

However, there is an important stipulation to this reward…it’s not immediate.  Note what Paul says – Let us not get tired of doing good, for we will reap at the proper time if we don’t give up.  God has in mind a proper time to give us the reward, and that will only come if we don’t give up.  Persistence (continuing to give the same level of energy) and perseverance (continuing when challenges arise) are key to obtaining God’s rewards. 

Notice, too, there is no indication that perfection is needed…but we need to keep the long-term mindset in order to keep on loving God and loving others, even if we don’t see immediate results.

Keep Pressing,
Ken