Getting Credit

We Christians have a dilemma. We understand that we're saved by grace -- unmerited favor -- and we have no room for boasting. No merit; no boasting. Still, we are supposed to do good and we are promised rewards for doing so. So how does that work? We are without merit, but we will receive merit.

In Judges 4 there is the famous story of Deborah and Barak (to be distinguished from a modern day Barack). Deborah was a prophetess who reminded Barak that God had told him to take an army and God would eliminate the enemy general for them. Barak balked. "If you will go with me, I will go, but if you will not go with me, I will not go" (Judg 4:8). As a result, Deborah said, "I will surely go with you. Nevertheless, the road on which you are going will not lead to your glory, for the LORD will sell Sisera into the hand of a woman" (Judg 4:9). So they did what God said and it happened as God said and, in the end, the enemy army was destroyed and a woman killed Sisera, their commander (Judg 4:10-24).

So, there's that concept again. If Barak had simply done what God had told him, it would have resulted in glory to Barak. He didn't, and it wouldn't. But the interesting thing is that in the text the victor is never unclear. God had told him "I will draw out Sisera" (Judg 4:6). In the battle Deborah told him, "The LORD has given Sisera into your hand" and "Does not the LORD go out before you?" (Judg 4:14). And in the end, "On that day God subdued Jabin the king of Canaan before the people of Israel" (Judg 4:23). So, God did it, but Barak would have received glory for it. Just like the Christian life.

That's how it works, you see. We are to work out our salvation with fear and trembling (Phil 2:12) but it's not like we do it. "It is God who works in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure" (Phil 2:13). So we do it because God works in us. Or, in the terms of the story from Judges, we do it because God gives us the victory. Isn't it amazing, then, that there are blessings and rewards from God when we obey? We are able to work for God's good pleasure simply because He supplies the will and the ability to do so, and, in that, none of us have room to boast. And, still, He credits us for doing what He empowered. That's some marvelous deal!