Hello All,
(Just a general disclaimer that I must insert here at the beginning. I am but a lay person, like most of you. And these weekly “thoughts” are but my own. Not the definitive word on this or any topic. Just my own conclusions derived from my own study and faith in God. The greatest hope I have for these weekly “thoughts” is to have them be a springboard for further study on your part. Not to be a weekly treatise to be blindly accepted. So, please read them with this intent, this motive in mind).
This week’s lesson from “The Adult Sabbath School Guide” is titled “Rewards of Faithfulness”. “The Bible uses the hope of reward as a motivation for faithful living…” (quarterly for Sabbath). The Bible does talk like this at times. It also talks of “blessings and cursings”, especially in Deuteronomy. But either the hope of reward/ striving for blessings; or the fear of punishment/avoidance of cursings; are the meagerest of motives. They are just the beginning-motives for us sinners. These motives are meant to start the process of faith, but never meant to finish the process of faith. Faith is a progressive process that brings us closer and ever closer to our Father. Trusting Him more and more. Knowing Him more and more. But this beginning stage that so appeals to self, is not meant to be where our faith stops. In fact, if we do not move beyond this meager beginning of faith (hope of reward or fear of punishment… the saving of self), if we insist on staying in this immature stage of faith, we are in danger of losing true faith altogether.
In God’s appeals to us, He knows us. And knows how to reach each of us. In Deuteronomy, God through Moses presents the benefits of following Him, encouraging our “hope of reward”. He presents the punishments that will come if we do not obey Him encouraging our “fear of punishment”. Yet these are inferior motivations. EGW in “Patriarchs and Prophets (Chapter 58)” tells us of the “school of the prophets” founded by Samuel (a great chapter about the education of our youth). In this chapter, starting on page 601, she says this about “fear of punishment” and “hope of reward”:
“Let the youth be led to understand the object of their creation, to honor God and bless their fellow men; let them see the tender love which the Father in heaven has manifested toward them, and the high destiny for which the discipline of this life is to prepare them, the dignity and honor to which they are called, even to become the sons of God, and thousands would turn with contempt and loathing from the low and selfish aims and the frivolous pleasures that have hitherto engrossed them. They would learn to hate sin and to shun it, not merely from hope of reward or fear of punishment, but from a sense of its inherent baseness, because it would be a degrading of their God-given powers, a stain upon their Godlike manhood.”
“Fear of punishment” and “hope of reward” (hope of eternal life) are inferior motivations for God’s children. Yet, in Deuteronomy, God through Moses uses this as motivation. We might ask why. But any of us parents or leaders of youth know why. If youth cannot be motivated by “the tender love which the Father in heaven has manifested toward them and the high destiny for which the discipline of this life is to prepare them, the dignity and honor to which they are called, even to become sons of God...” (ibid), then God (and us parents and teachers) must resort to inferior motivation.
This is truly inferior motivation, reserved for the most recalcitrant of children. For earlier in “Patriarchs and Prophets pg. 523” EGW states, “To engage in His service merely from hope of reward or fear of punishment would avail nothing. Open apostasy would not be more offensive to God than hypocrisy and mere formal worship.” Strong words from her pen. But true words, too. Therefore, God through Moses, is using the basest motivation possible for the people to follow God. A hair-breadths difference between true faith and heathenism. Not the high-calling fit for His faithful children. But motivation fit for those who have slave mentality.
Another EGW quote from “Mount of Blessing” page 81 adds some depth to this understanding of ‘hope of reward”:
“We are not to think of reward, but of service; yet kindness shown in this spirit will not fail of its recompense. "Thy Father which sees in secret Himself shall reward thee openly." While it is true that God Himself is the great Reward, that embraces every other, the soul receives and enjoys Him only as it becomes assimilated to Him in character. Only like can appreciate like. It is as we give ourselves to God for the service of humanity that He gives Himself to us”.
As you study this week and read, think of this weakest of all motivation (hope of reward, fear of punishment). Think about yourself and your own motivation. Does the hope of eternal life motivate you? Or does being “one” with our God who sacrifices even His eternal existence for His enemies motivate you? Would you give up your “life” for the one person who has wronged you the most? If not, this is an indication of a great need. A great and needed growth of heart. A needed growth that God will surely provide… if wanted. So, ask yourself, “Do I want a heart like my Father’s?” And if so, if you are sincere about this, God will bring you into His “school”. He will show you just how much you are “wretched, miserable, poor, blind and naked”. Concurrently He will “counsel you to buy” from Him “gold tried in the fire… white garments… and eye-salve”. A most wonderful schooling it is. It will not be easy. You will be “tried in the fire” But it is the only way to move from your “lukewarm” state that makes God about to vomit, into a “hot” state of love that will sacrifice all for even our enemies (all quotes in this paragraph are from Revelation 3: 14-18).
Remember, HE is the reward. A progressive process of knowing Him that starts here on earth. No wonder “hope of reward” or “fear of punishment” is so offensive to God. If your own children related to you in this way for their whole lives… for what they could get from you or to avoid any punishment from you, instead of learning to understand you, know you, and love you… wouldn’t you be hurt, sad, and even offended?
With brotherly love,
Jim