LIBERTY UNIVERSITY BIBLICAL USE OF REWARDS AS A MOTIVATION FOR CHRISTIAN SERVICE A Thesis Project Submitted to Liberty University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree DOCTOR OF MINISTRY By Bill Fredric Korver Lynchburg, Virginia August, 2011 Copyright 2011 Bill F. Korver All Rights Reserved LIBERTY UNIVERSITY THESIS PROJECT APPROVAL SHEET ______________________ GRADE ______________________________ MENTOR ______________________________ READER ABSTRACT THE BIBLICAL USE OF REWARDS AS A MOTIVATION FOR CHRISTIAN SERVICE Bill F. Korver Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary, 2011 Mentor: Dr. Charles Davidson A review of current cultural trends and Christian literature reveals very little writing and preaching about a motivation for personal obedience in general and vocational ministry in particular. The purpose of this project will be to demonstrate how one's motivation for service to Christ will be greatly enhanced when considering the possibility of gaining, or losing, rewards from Jesus Christ both in this life and more specifically at the future judgment seat of Christ. It will be the intent of this project to demonstrate conclusively that not only is this a scripturally sound motivation, but also that it is a chief motivation employed by the New Testament writers. Abstract length: 104 words i DEDICATION It has been said, "If you see a turtle on a fence post, you can be sure it had help getting there!" I am not a turtle, but I most definitely had help to get to this point of my life. In my formal education, three professors at Southeastern Bible College (Birmingham, AL) had the most profound impact, Doctors Gannett, Raiford and Talley respectively taught me how to walk in the Spirit, how to rightly interpret the scriptures and how to clearly communicate God's Word. During those days I met Rick Oglesby, who later recommended a resource that sparked an interest in the topic of rewards and loss. A special thanks to the believers at First Bible Church (Decatur, AL), Christ Community Church (Pinehurst, NC) and the Carolina Bible College (Fayetteville, NC) family who have encouraged and supported me through years of study and patiently allowed me to grow as a teacher of God's Word and leader of His people. Finally, my family deserves the greatest thanks. My parents, Bill and Fran Korver, introduced me to the Savior and have consistently lived for the King. My five siblings each have had a profound influence on my life. Last, but certainly not least, my wife, Marcia, and three children, Elizabeth, Jared and Allegra, have always been faithful encouragers and my biggest cheerleaders. For all these people and many others I have known, I cannot wait to see the rewards the King bestows upon them! ii TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction.................................................................................................................................... iv Statement of the problem............................................................................................................... iv Statement of limitation................................................................................................................... iv Theoretical basis for the project..................................................................................................... vi Statement of Methodology............................................................................................................. vi Review of Literature ...................................................................................................................... vi Chapter 1. A Motivational Problem............................................................................................... 1 Chapter 2. Searching for Motivation ........................................................................................... 10 Chapter 3. Rewards as a motivator in the Old Testament............................................................ 19 Chapter 4. Rewards as a motivator in the New Testament.......................................................... 35 A. Jesus on motivation and rewards ............................................................................................ 36 B. Peter on motivation and rewards............................................................................................. 50 C. Paul on motivation and rewards.............................................................................................. 56 D. John on motivation and rewards ............................................................................................. 74 Chapter 5. The Judgment Seat of Christ and rewards that motivate............................................ 83 A. The Crown Rewards................................................................................................................ 91 B. Overcomer Rewards.............................................................................................................. 103 Chapter 6. Rewards as a motivator in church history ................................................................ 120 A. Martyrs in church history...................................................................................................... 120 B. Music in church history......................................................................................................... 130 Conclusion .................................................................................................................................. 144 APPENDIX A: Reward Quotes................................................................................................. 148 APPENDIX B: Scripture passages on rewards.......................................................................... 150 APPENDIX C: Motivation survey............................................................................................. 155 BIBLIOGRAPHY....................................................................................................................... 158 iii INTRODUCTION The church in America, and perhaps around the world, faces great challenges. Among them are these, how does she get the uninvolved involved? Studies show that 8 in 10 church members are not. Another major challenge is, how does the church encourage the 20%, or so, of those who are actively involved to remain involved in ministry? Stating the problems another way, believers in the United States do not live lives that are demonstrably different than those who are not believers. Why is this and how can and should the church respond? STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM What the church has been doing has not been working, thus it should be clearly evident that something else needs to be done. This work will attempt to demonstrate what has been done to address the problem by two major systems of theology and then will give what the writer believes is a far more biblical response, one that can be traced from the earliest pages of the Old Testament to the last page of the New Testament. It is the writer's contention that the entire Bible, but especially the New Testament's primary means to motivate believers to obedience, to sanctification, is the promise of rewards and/or the threat of loss of them. STATEMENT OF LIMITATIONS This work will not consider other biblical motivators such as a love for Christ, a desire to help others and an avoidance of discipline in this life. Another limitation of this study is that it will not consider exhaustively every passage that addresses rewards as a v vi motivator, only a representative number. THEORETICAL BASIS FOR THE PROJECT The subject of rewards as a motivato r to obedience, a life of Christian service, touches on many facets of the Christian life. Theologically it addresses the subject of soteriology. Theology has long recognized that salvation is a three phase issue, justification, sanctification and glorification. Unfortunately works of obedience are often linked to justification when they are a sanctification issue. Further as one is, through good works and other means, sanctified, his glorification will be forever affected. The more one pursues after holiness in this life, the more glory he receives and can reflect upon Christ. STATEMENT OF METHODOLOGY It will be the writer's intention to demonstrate in greater detail the problem the church faces (chapter 1). Further it will be demonstrated how the two major theological systems address the problem (chapter 2). The writer will turn to the Old Testament to consider the use of rewards in the Old Testament (chapter 3). The subject is not as fully revealed in the Old Testament, but a foundation is laid. Turning to the New Testament, four key figures will be considered to determine what each said or wrote about rewards. The four are, Jesus, Peter, Paul and John (chapter 4). If rewards are as significant as the writer contends, what rewards are there to be won or lost? Will they really motivate? These questions are raised and answered in chapter 5. The last chapter (6) will look at church history. If rewards are truly a motivator, it would appear in the nineteen centuries since the close of the canon there would be a record of live motivated by rewards. The final chapter considers the martyrs of the church and the music of the church. All this will be done by means of consulting commentaries, theologies, theological vii journals, on-line articles, hymnals and books specifically addressing the topic of rewards and the judgment seat of Christ. Additionally, several dozen believers