Does God reward us for being obedient to His Word?

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

God rewards obedience but not always in the ways we expect—His rewards often involve strengthening our character, deepening our faith, and using us to glorify Christ. God’s covenant with Israel included material blessings for obedience, though Job’s story reminds us that even the faithful suffer. The New Testament shifts the focus of obedience to God’s Word to spiritual rewards, showing how trials refine our faith and build perseverance (James 1:2–3; 1 Peter 1:6–7). Salvation, however, is never a reward for obedience, but a free gift from God through faith in Christ (Ephesians 2:8–9). Our greatest reward is an eternal relationship with God, which surpasses any earthly blessing.

FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

• In the Old Testament, God's covenant with the nation of Israel was often expressed in material blessings for obedience and material curses for disobedience. Leviticus 26 exemplifies this.
• The book of Job shows how, oftentimes, even those faithful to God will experience trials in this life.

FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

• God’s rewards for obedience are separate from His free gift of salvation, which no one can earn through works. Ephesians 2:8–9 says, “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”
• Hebrews 11, popularly called the “Hall of Faith,” lists faithful figures from the Old Testament, many of whom lived difficult lives. Often, the reward is in heaven, not on Earth. Hebrews 11:39–40 says, “And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect."
• We might think of a "reward" as an easy life or a material gift, but God told us that we would experience hardship in this world (John 16:33), often because of following Him. James indicates that the reward for faithfulness through suffering is the strengthening of character: “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.” (James 1:2–3).
• First Peter 1:6–7 points out that our reward for faithfulness through trials is the refining of our faith and the glorification of Christ: “In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”

IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY

Quid pro quo is a Latin phrase that means “something for something.” Even those who don’t know the phrase know the concept. From doing chores for allowance to getting compliments for a good report card, we’ve been raised to expect a reward for good performance. As adults, this continues with merit-based raises or promotions at work.

As Christians, we know we’re blessed with eternal salvation that isn’t based on anything we did, but based solely on what Christ did. Yet God does reward good behavior—just not always as we expect. Abiding in the Lord may involve pain and suffering on this Earth. The reward we gain is glorifying Christ to others and developing in spiritual maturity, which equips us to handle trials that would have formerly broken us. Our greatest gift is a relationship with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—the God of the universe who wants a relationship with us now and for eternity.

UNDERSTAND

• God rewards obedience by strengthening faith and building character.
• Obedience to God’s Word leads to fruitfulness and spiritual rewards in eternity.
• Salvation is a free gift, not a reward for obedience.

REFLECT

• How has obedience to God shaped your character and deepened your faith?
• How have you seen the fruitfulness of obedience to God’s Word?
• How can you focus more on the eternal rewards of obedience, rather than seeking immediate blessings?

ENGAGE

• What is the difference between obedience out of love for God versus obedience for what we can get out of it?
• How can we encourage one another to remain faithful when obedience does not lead to what we expect or desire?
• If all of us will suffer in this lifetime—whether we obey God’s Word or not—what are the benefits and results of obedience?