Articles
Reward Without Effort?
One does not normally lose weight by constantly eating ice cream and cake; eventually, you will have to diet and exercise. The house won't be clean by ignoring the accumulating dust bunnies or allowing the dishes to pile up; eventually, someone will have to do the dusting, and sweeping and — yes — even wash the dishes. You won't gain muscles by avoiding the gym and sitting on the couch; eventually you will have to lift some weights and do some exercise to strengthen and build those muscles. Simply put: There is no reward without effort.
Unfortunately, when it comes to spiritual matters, many believe God will reward us without us making any effort. For example, one of the most popular religious doctrines teaches that man can do nothing towards his own salvation because God has done it all. In reality, this would mean God would reward a man with forgiveness of sins and eternal life in heaven for doing nothing at all, while He [God] had done everything! [This is not to say we can somehow 'earn' salvation or do enough works to merit forgiveness, but that we must positively respond to God's offer of salvation, and obey His will if we expect Him to do the work of forgiving our sins and saving us.] There are simply too many passages that clearly state requirements of action on our part to be forgiven and saved to say man can do nothing. While we are not saved by meritorious works, we certainly must believe and obey, and that means we must put forth an effort. Faith comes by hearing the word of God (Rom. 10:17), so that means we must listen or read, and we must then think about what we have heard or read and make a decision. If we are convicted, we must then act on that belief and obey. While God is the one who does the work of forgiving and saving us, we must trust in Him and be baptized before He will do that work (cf. Col. 2:11-13). Again, we must put forth an effort.
But this idea of reward without effort doesn't end with our initial salvation, either. Some believe that once they have been forgiven, there is nothing else required of them — or at least some live as if nothing else is required. Some brethren do not give themselves to worship their Creator, and only assemble with their fellow believers if nothing else hinders them. Some brethren do assemble with others, but take no part in the assembly, do no work for the kingdom, and contribute little [if anything] to the local church's efforts. Some want unity among the brethren, but do nothing that would encourage or maintain unity. Some want the church to grow, but contribute nothing to the work of making that happen; they tell no one else about God's plan of salvation, do not get involved in any classes [as a teacher or a student], and never invite anyone to sit down and study or come with them to Bible study and worship.
We could go on and on, listing the many things we do as brethren that demonstrate this faulty thinking, but let us instead consider the solution: Put forth some effort! How so? Consider some admonitions from God's word about the effort we need to put forth in order to have success and make some positive, needed gains.
Diligence to be Approved of God. In Paul's words to Timothy, we find a worthy guide for success in this: “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Tim. 2:15). The Greek word translated as “diligent” is spoudazo [spoo-dad'-zo] which has meaning of diligence, effort, and speed. In other words, if we want to be approved of God, we must see the sense of urgency in doing this, and we must then put forth the effort to do so. If being approved of God is our goal, we must be workers and we must rightly divide [i.e., properly interpret and apply] God's word. Being approved of God doesn't come by accident or by the simple passage of time; we must put forth the effort.
Diligent to Add to Our Faith. When we obey the gospel call to salvation by acknowledging the truth of Christ's claim to be the Son of God [i.e., we believe] and when we obey in baptism, that is not the end of our responsibilities, but just the beginning. I have always been troubled by those who say "Just believe," for it sends the message that God requires nothing else of you! Peter plainly wrote, “But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith” (2 Pet. 1:5). This inspired writer argued that faith is just the beginning, and that we need to put forth the effort to strengthen our faith by adding to it, and when you do so, “you will never stumble” and “an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Pet. 1:10, 11). A strong faith does not come by only the passage of time, either; if we want a strong faith, we must put forth the effort.
Diligence In Leading God's People. In the various instructions to the brethren of Rome, Paul admonished each disciple to put forth the greatest effort in whatever area they were given gifts for the benefit of the church. To those who lead, he wrote, they were to do so “with diligence” (Rom. 12:8). For those who serve in the church as leaders, whether it be elders, evangelists, or teachers, this admonition is fitting.
Teachers are in a unique position of influencing generations of young and old, and that is no place to put forth little or no effort to do our best; how well we teach may very well determine the spiritual strength of others for many years. Evangelists likewise stand as a powerful influence on generations of believers and potential believers, and lack of diligence will lead to lost souls remaining lost, and converts remaining weak in the faith. For elders — who have been given the specific charge of watching out for the souls of the flock whom they oversee (Heb. 13:17), a lack of diligence will lead to troubles, a flock that lacks its basic needs, and the possibility of souls lost due to simple neglect. In each of these positions as leaders, we cannot afford ones who lack diligence, but need those who are willing to put forth the effort!
Diligence To Enter the Rest. The book of Hebrews was written to Jewish Christians who were thinking about turning away from Christ and going back to the Old Law, falsely believing that such a change would relieve them of the persecutions they had already suffered because of their faith in Christ. As a reminder of the need for them to hold fast to their faith, the writer pointed to the example of the Israelites who failed to enter into the Promised Land because of unbelief and then exhorted the brethren, “Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience” (Heb. 4:11).
Later, the writer will once again remind these brethren that they must “hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering” (Heb. 10:23), and that they had “need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise” (Heb. 10:36). In no uncertain terms, the inspired writer admonished these brethren to be diligent to obtain the final reward; it was not going to come to them simply because they once named the name of Christ! The final reward demanded they put forth the effort!
Friends and brethren, nothing worth having comes without effort, and the greatest reward will be given to those who are willing to give their all (Rom. 12:1). —— Steven Harper
