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.