Who has given a gift to God that he might be repaid? For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. (Romans 11:35–36)
When it comes to obedience, GRATITUDE is a dangerous motive. It tends to get expressed in debtor’s terms. For example, “Look how much God has done for you. Shouldn’t you, out of gratitude, read your word and pray? Or: “You owe God everything that you are and have. You should thank Him with your life!"
I have at least three problems with this kind of motivation.
First, it is impossible to pay God back for all the grace he has given us. We can’t even begin to pay him back, because Romans 11:35–36 says, “Who has given a gift to God that he might be repaid? [Answer: Nobody!] For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever.” We can’t pay him back because he already owns all we have to give him.
Secondly, even if we succeeded in paying him back for all his grace to us, we would only succeed in turning grace into a business transaction. If we can pay him back it was not grace. If someone tries to show you a special favor of love by having you over for dinner, and you end the evening by saying that you will pay them back by having them over next week, you nullify their grace and turn it into a trade. God does not like to have his grace nullified. He likes to have it glorified (Ephesians 1:6, 12, 14).
Thirdly, focusing on gratitude as a motive for obedience tends to overlook the *crucial importance* of having faith in God’s (future) grace.
Gods grace ALWAYS precedes faith.
For by grace are you saved through faith.." [tea pot and tea cup illus.]
Grace is always pouring INTO faith.
Moment by moment because apart from Gods grace--You can do nothing.
Gratitude *looks back* to grace received in the past (the cross of Christ) and feels thankful. Faith *looks forward* to grace promised [and depends on it] in the future and feels hopeful. “Faith is the assurance of things hoped for” (Hebrews 11:1).
This faith in "preceding" "future" grace is the motive for obedience that *preserves the gracious quality of human obedience.*
Obedience does not consist in paying God back and thus turning grace into a trade. Obedience comes from trusting in God for MORE GRACE — future grace — and thus magnifying the infinite resources of God’s love and power!!!
Faith looks to the promise: “I will be with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9), and ventures, in obedience, to take the land.
I hope this cup o joe really sets many free!
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