One of the essential beliefs of a life of grace and truth is the overwhelming truth that grace can’t be earned. Whether one is talking about God’s grace for us or one person’s grace toward another, it cannot be earned.
The Bible consistently speaks of God’s grace toward us. One of the greatest is found in Ephesians 2, perhaps one of the most familiar and impactful: “God saved you by His grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.” (Ephesians 2:8-9 NLT)
God’s grace cannot be earned, brought, or bargained for. Those verses are clear: grace is freely given.
Grace also comes into play in our relationships with others. There are some who work hard to impress, to “earn” the approval of another. There are also those who, sadly, keep score. It’s almost like they have a tablet in their hand keeping tabs on every good and bad thing that has been done. It’s almost like the “Love me, Loves me not” scenario. Too many bad check marks and that other person is cast out of our acceptance circle. Check marks to the good bring acceptance and even “love.” It’s interesting that one of the characteristics of love given in I Cor. 13 is “Love doesn’t keep score.” Another translation says, “Love keeps no record of wrongs.”
People filled with grace and love stop collecting tickets. They stop asking if they have collected enough and they stop asking if someone else has collected enough. Let’s stop keeping score-of ourselves and of someone else.
Grace and love are freely given. It is not earned. And it certainly isn’t a result of or offered as a reward from coming out on the “win” side of the score card.
I think you state it well. In my late teens, I resolved to believing that all my good decisions and bad decisions would be tossed onto some cosmic scale and weighed. Then my score would be compared to every one else and if I came out after the curve with a passing grade… I would get the certificate of completion and pass from this life into heaven. Ok maybe not quite that dramatic, but the concept was there and I figured that was close enough. I missed the entire idea of grace until it slapped me in the face like a brick. What I realized is that it was just an excuse to do what I want when I wanted as long as the negative impact to others was minimal. Very subjective. There have been times since where I live with the same attitude and use grace as my disclaimer. The difference is my understanding of sowing and reaping. Just because there is grace doesn’t mean there won’t be consequences.
Some seriously good thoughts here Ryan. First, I don’t believe you are alone in your comparison game. I am sure it way too common. Second, there are people who use grace as a “reason” (let’s call it accurately..an excuse) to do what they want to do when they want to. The idea of sowing and reaping carries some serious weight.
So thankful God is not an accountant , sitting in Heaven with an adding machine, ‘cause I would surely end up in the red if not for His Grace!
What a great analogy Pam. I will stand with you on “I’m glad.”
God’s grace is never earned but freely given to all who ask and believe in Jesus as Lord and Savior. Let’s stop keeping score (unless it’s for our favorite sports team) and just love as God first loved us.
Blessings, Bill!
Very true Martha. I’m with you on the keeping score. (However, I wish I could convert my daughter from her obsession with the Atlanta Braves) 🙂
Grace is the greatest gift that God gives us, without it we do not have eternity with God. We honor God when give grace to those around us. Grace should teach us, instead of continuing to sin, we now want to turn grace into service for gratitude for God’s given grace. I wish I could say I learned that as soon as I accepted Christ, but it took me 12 years to understand what grace really was and how to accept it, and what to do with it.
Grace is so amazing isn’t it Gail? Your comments show you understand the magnitude of grace and yet it is never exhausted. I’m glad you learned about grace…no matter how long it took. You are the more “graceful” for it.
I love this and the comments. I’m one of those if God is keeping score I will be marked as a failure. Amazing how many bad choices one can make in a lifetime. The good thing is we hopefully get better after suffering failure. God is so awesome because his love carry’s us through the hard times.
I can join your club Dexter. Being marked as a failure could dog my tracks if not for God’s grace.