June 2004
Page 1 - The Myth of the Lay Person - Contending for the Liberation of the Church By Paul Anderson and Graeme Sellers
Page 2 - The Awards Banquet - Toward a Theology of Rewards By Paul Anderson
The Awards Banquet - Toward a Theology of Rewards
By Paul AndersonAt the end of our high school basketball season, we always had an awards banquet. All players and coaches and the most loyal fans showed up as we celebrated. Some players were thankful to have just made the team, while others were given awards, like "most improved" or "most valuable player." This was not a time to cut players from the squad because the season was over. Rather, it was rather a time when the year was reviewed and when excellence was honored. Playing well was its own reward, but it was also honored at the end.
In the same way, God's team comes together at the close of the season. Faithfulness is rewarded. No one is judged in the sense of being condemned (John 5:24), but everyone is accountable for the way the game has been played.
My family was having morning devotions recently. We read about how Jesus encouraged hosts to invite the poor to dinner, saying, "You will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous" (Luke 14:14). My ten-year old asked a logical question, "What will we be repaid?" While I couldn't answer her question very well, it was significant that the youngest raised it. Children love rewards. Adults do too, but sometimes it gets messed up with our understanding of grace. Karis wanted to know the pay-off to decide whether it would be worth going after.
While it is not clear what the reward is, it is worth waiting for, and it was motivation for Paul, who spoke about crowns, rewards, and a prize. A crown ("stephanos" in Greek, a laurel wreath) was what a victorious athlete received. The reception of that prize was motivation for self-discipline and hard work. Paul said to "run in such a way as to get the prize" (I Cor. 9:24). It is not wrong to have the prize in view. In fact, it brings greater courage, perseverance, and discipline, qualities that we need to run a good race. While athletes work hard for a perishable wreath, the Christian who is disciplined himself and runs a good race is given an imperishable crown (I Cor. 9:25). We are warned against losing what we have worked for, like an Olympic athlete who is discovered to have broken rules and must surrender his medal: "Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown" (Rev. 3:11; see also II John 8). Demas, a partner with Paul, no doubt lost his crown when he quit the team for worldly pleasures.
Scripture speaks of a crown of rejoicing, a crown of righteousness, a crown of life, a crown of glory. Part of the reward appears to be a place with Christ (Rev. 3:21), which could include added responsibility and accompanying authority. The reward of the stewards who were responsible and wisely invested for their master was greater responsibility.
The sequence, in theological terms is salvation, sanctification, glorification. Salvation means that we are on the team, invited in by the sheer grace of God; sanctification is how we play on the team. Glorification is what happens when the season is over. Sanctification continues to the point of death; glorification happens mainly after this life, though for Jesus it included going to the cross, then being raised, ascending, and returning to His place of power. Glorification for us includes a glorified body that will last forever (Phil. 3:21), a sharing in the glory of Christ, as we are co-heirs with Him (Rom. 8:17), and a giving of rewards. God sees the whole process as one completed whole: "And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified" (Rom. 8:30).
We are saved (we make the team) by grace, but it is unto good works, to playing well, not sloughing off (Eph. 2:10). As author Bruce Wilkenson says, "What you believe determines where you will spend eternity. What you do determines how you will spend it." We have an opportunity to "lay up treasures in heaven" (Matt. 6:20), which should motivate us against needing to lay up treasures on earth. Treasures in heaven are real and can occupy our heart (v.21). Living this way will afford us "a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom" (II Pet. 1:11). On the other hand, some will be saved by the skin of their teeth and will have little to show for it. They made the squad, but they didn't get much playing time. "If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames" (I Cor. 3:14,15). Judgment Day for them will not be a happy occasion. "And now, dear children, continue in him, so that when he appears we may be confident and unashamed before him at his coming" (I John 2:28). The tears God wipes away may be the regret of having not used our gifts more wisely or having not helped the team to win.
Theocracy is not the same as democracy, and Christians will not be rewarded equally. God's justice is perfectly fair. Believers will not be condemned, but they will be judged as to how they have stewarded what was given to them (Matt. 25:14-30; 20:1-16). Not to be judged in any way would be to say that we are not ultimately accountable to God, but Scripture makes it clear that we are: "Each of us will give an account of himself to God" (Rom. 14:12). You won't give an account of how your teammates have played, nor will they judge your activity. The Coach, who knows every player perfectly, will hand out the awards.
Rewards suggest that justice will be meted out at the end. The day of Christ will bring it about. Justice is not fully realized in this life, which is why we have the final judgment. The rewards come not when we die and go to heaven but at the day of the Lord (Rev. 22:12; Matt. 16:27). "Behold, I am coming soon. My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done" (Rev. 22:12). I can forget to give something I have promised, but Jesus never does. He, in fact, brings it with Him when He comes for His Bride. He tells us it will be soon to motivate us to be waiting, watching, and playing to the best of our ability. Our expectation should grow with each day. "For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father's glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done" (Matt. 16:27). Giving a reward is not peripheral in the thinking of Jesus; it is a central part of His great return.
Good deeds, such as hospitality (Matt. 10:40,41), the care of the needy (Matt. 25:34-40), or even the giving of a cup of cold water (Matt. 10:42) are an investment in future benefits and are evidences that we are playing well. "For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes? Is it not you?" (I Thess. 2:19). "Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever" (Dan. 12:3). Good works are rewarded, and so is good character. Simply standing fast and enduring in the face of difficulty brings a crown (James 1:12).
While Jesus speaks about suffering and self-denial, He also speaks about rewards. Those who suffer and bear it have a "great reward" in heaven (Matt. 5:11,12; Luke 6:22,23). "If we endure, we will also reign with Him" (II Tim. 2:12), which sounds like the reception of a crown.
Nothing escapes the watchful eye of God. "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad" (II Cor. 5:10).
Rewards:
make hard work worth it
tell us something about the kindness of God
let us know that the best is yet to come
amplify rather than diminish the grace of God
motivate those in pain to hold out
must be worth it if they come from the Father
show us the close connection between faith (pistis) and faithfulness (pistos)
Rewards reflect back on the Rewarder. He calls us to Himself, calls us into service, gives us the power to do what He requires, then rewards us for faithfulness. What grace! God is the rewarder, making any reward an optimum prize and any judgment a sad verdict. God Himself is the best prize: "Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward" (Gen. 15:1). He is worth going after, greater than any gift He could give us. He is the pearl of great price.
And yet the righteous are promised rewards, some now and most later. Jesus taught His disciples, "Great is your reward in heaven." The wicked get their "reward" now and punishment later. They are under the "buy now-pay later" plan. The righteous wait for their reward later, though in one sense obedience is its own reward. Obedience is always rewarded, and disobedience is always judged, though not always in this life and not materially, as Old Testament Jews were prone to believe. So whether the reward is the effect of the cause or whether God stands at the end of the line with awards, obedience to the will of God pays dividends. The psalmist says that "in keeping them (God's law) there is great reward" (19:11).
Rewards are based on both God's justice and His mercy. In His justice He evens the score, if not now, later; if not in this life, in the next. God is a debtor to no one, and He will pay those to whom He has made promises. Though it didn't always look like the obedient got the best deal, the psalmist could declare, "Surely the righteous still are rewarded; surely there is a God who judges the earth" (58:11). The blessing to a kind foreigner named Ruth would not be overlooked by a just God: "May the Lord repay you for what you have done. May you be richly rewarded by the Lord, the God of Israel under whose wings you have come to take refuge" (Ruth 2:12). This blessing was based on the understanding that those who plant obedience will reap a harvest. There is cause and effect built into the system. If we don't get an upgrade in this life, we get it in eternity. God doesn't miss the caring gesture, the gentle remark, the gift given, the hand extended, the forgiveness granted freely.
What does the champion of grace say at the end of his life? No one understood the mystery of grace better than Paul (Eph. 3:1-8). He told Timothy that he was "Exhibit A" of God's grace because of his past life (I Tim. 1:16). He urged his son in the faith, struggling as a pastor in Ephesus with problems over his head, to "be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus" (II Tim. 2:1). And yet his closing testimony said, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge will award me on that day-and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing" (II Tim. 4:7,8). Why would he talk about rewards at such a time? Why not say more about grace? Because they are not at odds with one another and because Timothy needed perseverance to keep on. And Paul knew that one great motivator for endurance was the awards that followed faithful service.
Heaven is going to be outrageously extravagant, where we will have the time of our (eternal) lives. But it will be even greater for those who lived with eternity in mind. My children, like all kids, love rewards and are motivated by them. If children need incentives, then God, the best Father of all, gives them freely. Dear brothers and sisters, we're going for the prize, so play your heart out-and get ready for the Awards Banquet!
