Did you know that in one sense of the word, it is selfish to be born again?

Here are some things that are selfish in the sense of being “intent on personal gain,” which is one of the primary meanings of the word:

• Marrying a godly spouse. Selfish.

• Buying a reliable used car. Selfish.

• Buying attractive clothes. Selfish.

• Going out to eat at Wendy’s. Selfish.

• Seeking a job you will like. Selfish.

• Seeking a job that pays enough for you to live on. Selfish.

• Going to college. Selfish.

• Going to church. Selfish.

• Reading your Bible. Selfish.

You get the picture. Anything we do that benefits us is selfish in the sense of providing personal gain.ⁱ

I’d been a believer for four years when I heard Dr. Bill Bright say that we should not serve Christ for rewards, but because we love Him. It wasn’t until I got to Dallas Seminary that I learned what the Bible actually says about eternal rewards.

My first exposure to the concept of rewards came when I wrote a paper on 1 Cor 9:24-27. The following semester, I took a course from Zane Hodges on Hebrews. Hodges kept talking about being Christ’s partners in the life to come. I asked why he emphasized rewards when there are only a few significant NT passages on the topic. He corrected me, saying that practically every page in the NT says something about the doctrine of eternal rewards! By the end of that course, I was convinced.

That was 1980, forty-four years ago. I’ve taught about eternal rewards many times since then. One question has come up frequently: “Isn’t it selfish to strive for eternal rewards?”

The word selfish has two significant meanings: 1) intent on personal gain and 2) greedy at the expense of others.

Striving for eternal rewards is selfish in the first sense, but not the second.

Eternal rewards do not come from being greedy at the expense of others. They come from the being the opposite of selfish.

One primary source of eternal rewards is loving our Christian brothers and sisters. We are to give them our time, talent, and treasure (Jas 2:15-16; 1 John 3:16-18).

It is in our best interest to help as many people as possible. The more we help others, the greater the eternal rewards we will receive.

Paradoxically, we lay up eternal treasure by giving up our earthly time, talent, and treasure.

Look at Matt 16:24-27. There, the Lord Jesus said that losing our lives is the way to gain them. Only by denying ourselves, taking up our crosses, and following Christ can we gain fullness of life now and in the life to come. Matthew 19:27 clarifies that the Lord spoke primarily of eternal rewards here.

Look at Jas 2:14-17. See “What does it profit?” in verses 14 and 16. We profit by giving believers who are hungry and cold what is needed for their bodies.

Look at Heb 12:2. The Lord Jesus endured suffering for us “for the joy set before Him.”

Look at Matt 6:19-21. Doesn’t the Lord command us to set our hearts on heavenly treasure? Wouldn’t it be sinful not to set our hearts on heavenly treasure?

Rewards motivate us in every area: work, sports, marriage, neighborhoods, education, politics, etc. People who don’t work well with others are not desirable for your group because they don’t profit themselves or others as they should.

God’s Word teaches that there will be eternal rewards for faithful service. In addition to the passages mentioned above, see also Matt 24:45-51; Luke 19:16-26; 1 Cor 3:10-15; 9:24-27; 2 Cor 5:9-10; Gal 6:7-9; Col 1:21-23; 2 Tim 2:12; 4:6-8; Jas 5:9; 1 John 2:28; 4:17-19; Rev 2:26; 3:21.

Most professing Christians reject the concept of eternal rewards for two reasons: their tradition and what they consider fair.

Most traditions see everlasting life as a reward won by perseverance in faith and good works. They teach that all who persevere win “final salvation.” That is the reward. Everyone will have precisely the same fullness of life.

If you follow most traditions, you won’t believe in rewards. Though you don’t think about it that way, you are ultimately rejecting God’s command.

Likewise, if you think God would be unjust to give out differing levels of rewards, you will reject the idea of eternal rewards unless and until you bring your thinking into line with Scripture.

I remember hearing a presentation by a leading NT scholar who argued that there cannot be degrees of rewards in the kingdom. That was his argument. Eternal rewards didn’t seem fair to him.

Eternal rewards are not “greedy at the expense of others.” We lay up eternal rewards by denying ourselves, taking up our crosses, and following Christ. It is in our best interest to help as many people as possible.

We aren’t competing with each other. We are working together to enhance our lives now and forever.

Earl Radmacher said, “This life is training time for reigning time.” I like that. Our joy is, and will be, directly related to how much we glorify Him.

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ⁱ Of course, it is certainly not greedy at the expense of others to be born again. God can and will give everlasting life to all who believe in His Son. He won’t run out of the gift of God (John 4:10; Eph 2:8-9). The same is true of eternal rewards. God has an infinite supply of rewards to give out.