Learning to Love The Rewarder As The Reward
How to Rest in God when the temptation is to become either Resigned or Rigid
Intellectual Historian and author, Carl Trueman, recently delivered a lecture titled “Classical Theology and the Modern Mind” in which he said, “One of the things you find when you read the early church theologians or the medieval theologians or even many of the puritans is that the contemplation of God is seen as an end in itself. It is not instrumental to something else.” In contrast, in post-modern protestant churches especially, God is predominately envisioned as a rewarder, a granter of petitions, and as a healer — meaning He primarily exists to do something for you. Ask yourself, what was the substance of your last personal prayer time with God? Chances are high it was related to a lack or a need you were hoping God would answer for you. Truman would say, it’s obviously okay to ask God for things, but if that is ALL prayer is for us then we ought to deeply reevaluate our theology.
In Genesis chapter 11 we are introduced to a man name Abram, the son of Terah, who is residing in the land of his kindred, in Ur of the Chaldeans (what is modern-day Iraq). In chapter 12, YHWH, speaks to Abram and makes him a conditional promise. If Abram leaves his childhood home, surroundings, and comfort, then YHWH will give him a great reward. This included making Abram a great nation with a great name. So at the tender of 75, Abram believed the voice and embarked on the adventure of a lifetime in pursuit of that promise.
A decade into his adventure, the voice of YHWH once again appears and makes an incredible statement to Abram in Genesis chapter 15, “I AM your shield, YOUR very great REWARD.” (NIV) In other words, ‘How are you enjoying me, Abram? Isn’t life with me, awesome?’ To which Abram responds, with a RESIGNED tone, “O Lord God, what will you give me, for I continue childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” (ESV) Abram has totally missed it. His adventure was all about getting a gift (or another popular turn of phrase in evangelical circles is ‘standing on the promises of God’) rather than having the giver for himself. Producing and having an heir became an illusive object of satisfaction that was illuding him leaving Abram totally dejected and in a state of despair.
In “Counterfeit Gods”, Pastor and author Timothy Keller says, “There is a difference between sorrow and despair. Sorrow is pain for which there are sources of consolation. Sorrow comes from losing one good thing among others, so that, if you experience a career reversal, you can find comfort in your family to get you through it. Despair, however, is inconsolable, because it comes from losing an ultimate thing. When you lose the ultimate source of your meaning or hope, there are no alternative sources to turn to. It breaks your spirit.” For Abram, having an heir had become an ultimate thing, a counterfeit god, an idol which was preventing him from enjoying YHWH as an end in himself. He was in a relationship for what he could get, rather than friendship and fellowship.
After God reassured Abram that Eliezer of Damascus would not in fact be his heir apparent, but that a miracle child from his own loins — Abram once again misses the mark, going from one extreme to another. Whereas before he was resigned, this time he became RIGID and determined to force God’s promises to come about in his own timing and strength. After conspiring with his wife, Abram impregnates her servant, Hagar, who gives birth to Ishmael. However, instead of finding contentment and peace, Ishmael became a source of strife. Once again, shalom evaded the patriarch.
12 years later, when Abram was 99 years old, YHWH once again appeared in chapter 17 to him, changes his name to Abraham and makes 7 “I” statements — signifying God’s perfect timing and nature — reminding our main character that blessings are not the main object rather the character behind the promises is what’s most important:
v1 “I am God Almighty”
v2 & v7 “I make (& establish) my covenant”
v5 “I have made you the father of a multitude of nations”
v6 “I will make you exceedingly fruitful”
v6 “I will make you into nations”
v8 “I will give to you and to your offspring after you the land”
v8 “I will be their God”
As for Abraham’s part of the covenant, all he was told to do can be found in Genesis 17v9, where YHWH states, “As for you, you shall keep my covenant” by adopting circumcision which is nothing more than a ceremonial symbol of sacrifice and trust. In other words, ‘Abraham! Stop being resigned (depressed), and stop being so rigid (determined), but rather just REST (or be dependent) in my perfect nature and ability to make all things happen. One year later, Isaac, the miracle baby reward was born unto Sarah and Abraham just in time for God’s final test — would Abraham love the REWARD or the REWARDER. In chapter 22, Abraham passed the test and got to enjoy both.
Eliezer, Ishmael and Isaac represent for us the 3 modes of existence we can exist in within our post-modern lives of luxury, technology, pleasure, and entertainment. The church, in its long history has either promoted a lifestyle of being RESIGNED (Eliezer = despair & poverty) or a lifestyle of RIGIDITY (Ishmael = determined prosperity) but rarely has the church and its leaders gotten it right by teaching its congregants how to how to REST (Isaac = dependence through patient obedience) by enjoying God as an end in and of himself through the perfect sacrifice that Jesus offered on our behalf. The Lord’s Table or the Eucharist replaced circumcision as the proper ceremonial ritual which is the symbolic representation of God as both the REWARDER & the REWARD!
To paraphrase Matthew 6v33 “But seek first God the REWARDER and his righteousness for himself as your REWARD, and when you do everything else will be given to you and because these blessings won’t own your heart, you’ll be able to give them away freely and bless others like Abraham did.”
God blessed!
It's so important that we shift our focus from seeking gifts from God to enjoying God as the ultimate reward. This points to a lifestyle of resting in God's perfect nature and timing. Thank you!