I think one of the hardest ideas to really accept is the idea that when we do good, we’re not going above and beyond, so to speak, but we’re simply meeting the standard.
Luke 17:10:
“When you have done all that you were commanded, say, ‘We are unworthy servants, we have only done what was our duty.”
We’re well conditioned to feel proud of ourselves, and to expect thanks and honor when we do good things. We feel that we have exceeded the human standard. But, of course, the reality is that we have only begun to meet God’s standard.
Additionally, this concept makes logical nonsense of the prosperity Gospel. Rationally speaking, how much good would a person have to do to so far exceed the scriptural commands of love and sacrifice that God is actually compelled to reward. I don’t mean gift. God gives us gifts, based on grace, all the time. I mean a reward. As in, “you’ve done so much good, here is this big pile of money.”
God isn’t saying, “Whoa, look, you actually did what I said, here have this Lexus”. That’s ludicrous.
