It seems that companies everywhere are getting into offering a “Rewards Program” of some kind. Airlines have been offering “Frequent Flyer Miles” for years, but now other businesses are jumping on the bandwagon. After so many carwashes, get your next car wash for free. After so many submarine sandwiches, get your next sub for free. After so many Slurpees, get your next Slurpee for free. After so many socks, get your next pair of socks for free.
What’s the idea? Do more and you’ll get more. Spend more and you’ll get more. The aim of a “Rewards Program” from the standpoint of the company (generally speaking) is to get more customers to give them more money. The aim of a “Rewards Program” from the standpoint of the consumer (generally speaking) is to get more free stuff.
Do you suppose there are any Christians who may view the Christian life like it is some kind of “Rewards Program”? Meaning: Are there some who may think that being a Christian is all about “what I get out of it”? And, is it possible that there are some who are motivated by a mentality that says, “I will do more as a Christian so that I can get more”?
The Bible certainly teaches that Christians will be rewarded, both in this life (John 10:10) and in the life to come (Matt. 16:27). But is that our sole motivation? “Doing for God just to get from Him”? There is no way for us to ever “earn enough reward points” so that God is then indebted to us to “give us” what we have “merited”! Every reward of God is a “gift” (in this life [Eph. 2:8] and in the next life [Rom. 6:23]) based upon His marvelous “grace” (1 Tim. 1:12-15).
So, why do you “serve” the Lord? Why do you “follow” the Lord? Why do you “give” to the Lord? Why do you “love” the Lord? Why do you “worship” the Lord? Is it purely, only or mainly for what you “get out of it”? If it is, we need to reconsider the definition and our personal practice of agape love. Agape love is the heart motivation which God seeks behind each and every action of a Christian! “Let all that you do be done with agape love” (1 Cor. 16:14). Agape love is an unconditional, unselfish elevation of another and his/her needs above ourselves, seeking the best of the one loved. Think about that for a moment! That does NOT say that we do things as Christians in order to GET, but that all we do as a Christian OUGHT TO BE in order to GIVE!
Can you say, “I love the Lord! I love Him so much that I will serve Him with all my being regardless of any reward that I might receive!”? Let us not view the Christian life as a “Rewards Program,” and do more just to get more! Let us do more for God because we love Him more and more every day!