Resources/Articles
Why Everything You Do Matters
I never saw the movie Gladiator, but I understand there is a powerful scene where a general named Maximus addresses some of his Roman soldiers. “Brothers,” he says, “what we do in life echoes in eternity.” What a lesson to learn from a pagan.
The Law of Reward is based upon faith in God’s promises and our faithful behavior. The Bible clearly teaches that we are saved by God’s grace, through personal faith in Christ, apart from any works we may devise (Ephesians 2:8-9). It also teaches with clarity, that we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that we may be recompensed for what we have done in the body, whether good or bad (2 Corinthians 5:10). The purpose of this judgment is to determine whether we shall receive or lose eternal rewards (1 Corinthians 3:10-15).
We need to understand what we do involves the resources God has blessed us with - possessions, time, energy, and talents. Think of it like a building project. Paul says “our building” will be tested with fire. Based upon the quality of building materials (gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, or straw), our work will be consumed or endure (1 Corinthians 3:10-15).
Here, then, are some important questions. What are we doing with the resources God has entrusted to us? Are we seeking to build God’s kingdom, in God’s way, empowered by God’s Spirit? Are we only concerned with satisfying our own immediate wants and desires?
