A Guaranteed Bonanza (follow up)

A dear brother in Christ wrote the following, which I believe was in response to my recent post titled "A Guaranteed Bonanza."

"...we should beware of serving God from mercenary motives. We should beware of the attitude that says to God, “I have done this for you; what shall I get in return?” Such a question betrays a fundamental ignorance of God and what he has done for us in the person and work of Jesus Christ. It displays an ignorance of God’s sovereign grace. It elevates the merit of our efforts and displays a mistrust and misunderstanding of God’s goodness and generosity."

It seems that this brother reacted differently to Peter's inquiry about what he would obtain from the Lord in return for his sacrifice for him, than did Christ. Jesus did not react by scolding Peter, but rather assured him of rewards that far exceeded his investment.

So, what does "mercenary" mean? The dictionaries say it means to be "primarily concerned with making money at the expense of ethics" or denotes "one that serves merely for wages" or is "interested only in the amount of money that you can get from a situation." I don't believe that I implied such a thing, nor that I am one who "betrays a fundamental ignorance of God and what he has done for us in the person and work of Jesus Christ." If it does, then it condemns many of the Bible writers themselves. I also don't believe that what I wrote "displays an ignorance of God's sovereign grace" nor that "it elevates the merit of our efforts and displays a mistrust and misunderstanding of God's goodness and generosity."

I left a couple comments to my own post after reading the brothers commentary. Here they are:

I should add these passages:

“Ho! Everyone who thirsts, Come to the waters; And you who have no money, Come, buy and eat. Yes, come, buy wine and milk Without money and without price. Why do you spend money for what is not bread, And your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, And let your soul delight itself in abundance. Incline your ear, and come to Me." (Isaiah 55: 1-3)

"I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see." (Rev. 3: 18 nkjv)

"Buy the truth, and do not sell it, Also wisdom and instruction and understanding." (Prove. 23: 3)

These scriptures, along with many others, tell us to buy of the Lord the things mentioned. They also imply that these would be wise and profitable investments. Is God appealing to a mercenary motive? Or that this is the only thing that should motivate one to serve the Lord? Now let us notice a few more texts that bear on this point.

"Now godliness with contentment is great gain." (I Tim. 6: 6 nkjv)

"By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward." (Heb. 11: 24-26 nkjv)

Was Paul guilty of the things the brother says when he, like I did, said that great gain comes from being godly? Was Moses guilty of mercenary motives and of the things associated with that motivation when he "esteemed" that suffering reproach for the sake of Christ (a cost to him) would bring him a bonanza of "greater riches"? Or, that he was a mercenary disciple because "he looked to the reward"?

Here is another text to consider:

"But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind. And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you; for you shall be repaid at the resurrection of the just.” (Luke 14: 13-14 nkjv)

Was Jesus promoting serving him from mercenary motives and that alone? What about Paul when he tells believers to sow (which costs us labor and investment of our time) in order that they might reap a plentiful harvest? (Gal. 6: 9) Notice these texts:

"For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works." (Matt. 16: 27 kjv)

"If anyone's work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward." (I Cor. 3: 14 kjv)

Were Jesus and Paul appealing to mercenary motives? And if so, were they ignorant of God's sovereign grace? Were they elevating merit at the expense of grace?

In the parable of the talents, the "good (profitable) and faithful servants" were profited by their having been good stewards or investors for their Lord. (Matt. 25: 23-30) In fact Jesus says: "For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance" (vs. 29). Again, I ask the same questions.

Above I cited Paul's words where he said "godliness with contentment is great gain." The words preceding that statement are these:

"who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself. Now godliness with contentment is great gain." (I Tim. 6: 5-6 nkjv)

Does Paul contradict himself? No, for when he condemns some for thinking that "godliness is a means of gain" he alludes to those who think that living for the Lord and a godly life will make them rich in this world's goods, as many "Pentecostal" preachers have taught, being that "prosperity gospel." However, Paul is not denying that godliness does bring great gain, but not necessarily in worldly goods in this life. That is not to deny, however, that a man who serves Christ and follows the bible's advice on stewardship and handling money will not be better off than otherwise. Notice how Paul writes further in the same chapter:

"Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy. Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life." (17-19)

What Paul advised Timothy to say to those who are rich in this world was to be rich in faith and good works, thereby storing up or laying up true riches in heaven and for eternity to come, just as did Moses, as we have seen. They should "esteem the reproach of Christ" to bring "greater riches" than the "treasures" of this age. 

Was Lord God appealing to mercenary motives alone when in Deuteronomy chapter 28 he promised material well being and blessings for faithfulness to God and promised bankruptcy and curses to those who refused to obey him? And if so, does that mean that God was ignorant as the brother I cited seems to think? 

Paul told the Corinthians to "be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord"? (I Cor. 15: 58 nkjv)

One of the motivating factors of my working for the Lord is that I might hear him say "well done good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of your Lord." (Matt. 25: 21) If that makes me a religious mercenary, then count me guilty. Recall that I cited these words of the Lord to Peter:

“Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or parents or brothers or wife or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, who shall not receive many times more in this present time, and in the age to come eternal life.” (Luke 18: 28-30 nkjv)

Was Jesus a mercenary when he promised such rewards for serving him? Rather than rebuke Peter for asking what will be his gain for sacrificing much to serve Christ, Christ rather "assured" him of great reward. Let us be like the man who found good treasure in the field and went and "sold all he had" to buy that field and to obtain its treasure. (Matt. 13: 44) That does not make us mercenaries, nor deny sovereign grace, but is the wise thing to do.