Read
Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.
James 1:12
Reflect
A young man on his way home from school found a couple of canvas sacks lying in the street. He took a good look at them and found that they had been dropped by an armored car company and were filled with cash — $415,000 to be exact. He did the right thing and returned the money to the armored car service, and they presented him with a $1,000 reward.
The young man was nevertheless unhappy with the size of the reward. He had expected a much larger amount in exchange for the return of so much money. He was interviewed by the local newspaper about his actions and told them, “I don’t understand it. If I had it to do over again, I would probably keep the money.” Most people had assumed he had returned the money out of a sense of moral duty, but in reality, he had turned doing the right thing into a transaction. He had done it because he expected a big reward.
You might have noticed that a lot of Christians aren’t too different from that young man. Sometimes our faith becomes transactional without us even realizing it. We’re willing to follow the yellow brick road because of what we think is waiting at the end. Some live the Christian life expecting God to bless them with riches, health or an easier life because of their faith in Him. Others are motivated mainly by the desire to avoid the shame, guilt or consequences of sin.
There’s nothing wrong with expecting God to keep His promises. James tells us plainly that the person who remains steadfast under trial will “receive the crown of life.” The problem comes when the reward becomes the reason we follow Jesus — when our relationship with God becomes an exchange in which we obey because we believe He owes us something in return.
Fear of consequences can keep us from doing something foolish, and God’s promises can certainly encourage us to remain faithful. But neither should become the foundation of our relationship with Him. The best reason to follow Jesus is because we love Him with all of our heart, soul and mind.
To live the Christian life merely for what we hope to receive at the end is to miss the wonderful privilege we already have: a deep and loving relationship with our Savior.
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Reflection copyright © 2026 Doug DeBolt and Charles Fulton.
