When we think about eternal rewards, a common question arises: isn’t it selfish to try to earn rewards? But what if wanting rewards actually disqualifies us from getting them—like a catch-22? In this message, Pastor Josh White unpacks three proper motivations for living the Christian life that God wants to see in us.
Eternal Rewards: God’s Idea
First, we need to understand that eternal rewards are completely God’s idea—not a negotiation between God and humanity. He designed rewards specifically so that by our faith in Him, we would live in obedience to our faith.
But number two—rewards are not just God’s idea, they are God’s desire. He wants to reward us more than we want the reward itself. Just as we find joy in blessing others, God finds great joy in blessing and rewarding us—both in this life and at the judgment seat of Christ.
The Catch-22 Question
Many of us have asked this question: If someone gives or serves specifically to earn rewards, isn’t that selfish? And if selfishness is bad, doesn’t trying to earn rewards automatically disqualify us?
This is the catch-22 dilemma—it’s a no-win situation. But here’s the answer: When we do something by faith—believing God will do what He promised—then yes, we will be rewarded for our faith, the obedience of our faith. At the very least, it was based on our faith that God would do what He promised.
Three Proper Motivations
God wants to see three motivations in us as we live for Him:
1. Faith
Without faith it is impossible to please God. Whoever would draw near to God must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him. Faith is the key—is how we have a relationship with God and please Him—and our faith causes us to draw near to Him, resulting in God rewarding us both in this life and in the life to come.
But faith alone isn’t enough. Eternal rewards are not earned just because we believe in them. Just like faith alone didn’t get the Israelites into the Promised Land without obedience—we must put our faith into action. God wants us to live by faith, and when we do, He rewards us for that faith.
“And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.”
— Hebrews 11:6
2. Love
Faith and obedience are very good, but there’s a better motivation: love. For the love of Christ controls us. When we realize that He died for us while we were still sinners, we no longer live for ourselves but for Him who for our sake died and was raised.
In the parable of the faithful stewards, we see this motivation. The good servant didn’t just obey—he looked forward to the master’s return because he wanted to demonstrate his love. “Look what I did for you. Your love for me controlled me so that I lived my life not for myself but for you.” Our awareness of the judgment seat should control us, just as Christ’s love should control us.
“For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died, and he died for all that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.”
— 2 Corinthians 5:14-15
3. Hope
Faith, love, and hope—the three that remain. Hope is our real actual motivator. Whatever we put our hope in is the focus of all our time and effort. We pattern and twist our life to get the thing we are hoping for.
Most people hope for temporary things—power, money, a bigger house, a faster car. But when we put our hope in temporary things, we chase after the wind. That’s why it’s so important for us to know the hope that God has called us to—so we make that our hope.
God wants us to know the hope He has called us to—the glorious inheritance of the saints. He wants the eyes of our hearts enlightened so that we know what is the hope to which He has called us, and what are the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints.
“[That you] may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints.”
— Ephesians 1:18
Living for the Judgment Seat
At the judgment seat of Christ, our works and obedience will be judged. God alone perfectly knows all of our thoughts and the motives behind all of our actions. His judgment will be perfect, just, complete—and thankfully, very generous and gracious.
When we mess up—when we fail—God is a gracious God who responds to our repentance. Like Paul wrote in Philippians: “Forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” We leave our mistakes in the past and press forward to the hope God has called us to.
So here’s the question: What is your hope really in? Is it genuinely the inheritance that Christ has qualified you to share in? If that’s your hope—if you believe Paul’s words—then are you living in obedience to your faith? And does God’s goodness control you so that you no longer live for yourself, but for the One who qualified you to share in the inheritance?
This subject matters. It’s God’s desire for us. It’s God’s plan for us. Therefore, it should impact every area of our lives.
Scripture References
- Hebrews 11:6 — Faith and rewards
- Romans 1:5 — Obedience of faith
- Romans 16:25-26 — The mystery revealed
- James 2:14-26 — Faith and works
- 2 Corinthians 5:14 — The love of Christ
- Matthew 25:14-30 — Parable of the talents
- Philippians 3:12-14 — Pressing on toward the prize
- Romans 15:13 — The God of hope
- Ephesians 1:15-18 — The hope of His calling
- Colossians 1:12-14 — The inheritance of the saints