7 Factors The Lord Uses to Judge Our Works

 It is easy to get caught up in the moment of ministry and forget the eternal nature of what we are doing.

We are often mindful of how others perceive us, but we must stay focused on the fact that we will ultimately answer to the Lord. At that point, the opinions held by others will be of little consequence.

Toward the end of Paul’s final epistle, he acknowledges that his earthly trek is rapidly concluding and that he will soon be standing before the Lord.

 And now the time is fast approaching for my release from this life and I am ready to be offered as a sacrifice. I have fought an excellent fight. I have finished my full course with all my might and I’ve kept my heart full of faith. There’s a crown of righteousness waiting in heaven for me, and I know that my Lord will reward me on his day of righteous judgment. And this crown is not only waiting for me, but for all who love and long for his unveiling (2 Timothy 4:6-8 TPT).

Paul knew that a “day of righteous judgment” was awaiting him, and yet he did not fear or dread that day; he seems to have been greatly anticipating it.

 In referring to the expected crown, Paul is borrowing terminology from the athletic games and is referring (as an illustration) to the garland wreath awarded to the winners in various events. Paul also says that this type of crown is not something exclusive to him as an apostle but will be rewarded to “all who love and long for his unveiling.” This language seems to parallel Paul’s reference to those who are “looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13 NKJV).

Perhaps the aged apostle’s optimism is because of what he knew— that he had fought his fight, had kept his course, and had kept the faith. I’m not implying that our entrance to heaven will be based upon our works—we are saved by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8). However, I am saying that we will be—as the Bible says in several places—rewarded according to our works.

I wonder today how many believers and ministers live with the vivid awareness that they will one day stand before God and give an account for what they did in this life? How much would our decisions and actions be affected if we were mindful of the time when we will stand before the judgment seat of Christ. If we are to make decisions that are truly right, pleasing God must be more important to us than pleasing people, and principle must be more important to us than mere pragmatism.

 I believe that much of Paul’s steadfastness throughout his turbulent ministry was due to his focused desire to stand before the Lord and hear the words, “Well done, my good and faithful servant.” May I encourage you to read carefully the following Scriptures and allow them to be firmly established in your heart? If you are ever tempted to get off course, I believe these can also speak to you and help keep you on the right track.

 For we must all stand before Christ to be judged. We will each receive whatever we deserve for the good or evil we have done in this earthly body (2 Corinthians 5:10 NLT).

 So why do you condemn another believer? Why do you look down on another believer? Remember, we will all stand before the judgment seat of God.… Yes, each of us will give a personal account to God (Romans 14:10, 12 NLT).

 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and he is the one to whom we are accountable (Hebrews 4:13 NLT).

Obey your spiritual leaders, and do what they say. Their work is to watch over your souls, and they are accountable to God. Give them reason to do this with joy and not with sorrow. That would certainly not be for your benefit (Hebrews 13:17 NLT).

What is your reaction when you read those divinely inspired statements about our accountability before God? It should create a healthy, reverential fear of God in our hearts and should cause us to walk very circumspectly before him.

 It is important to remember that God is a righteous Judge. There will be no fooling him, even if we fooled others. He will judge righteously. This does not have to instill the wrong kind of fear, but it should be very sobering. The Lord will not be handing out participation trophies, but he will justly evaluate all that we did for him while on this earth. Having established that Jesus Christ is the foundation of all spiritual life, Paul addresses how we will be rewarded (or not) according to the quality of how we build on that foundation:

 Anyone who builds on that foundation may use a variety of materials—gold, silver, jewels, wood, hay, or straw. But on the judgment day, fire will reveal what kind of work each builder has done. The fire will show if a person’s work has any value. If the work survives, that builder will receive a reward. But if the work is burned up, the builder will suffer great loss. The builder will be saved, but like someone barely escaping through a wall of flames (1 Corinthians 3:12-15 NLT).

 The question in these verses is not our salvation. Even in the event of poor building, “the builder will be saved.” Our goal, though, is not to simply make it into heaven (that happens by the grace and mercy of God), but to labor in such a way that we are deemed faithful.

Personally, I would prefer not to simply be “saved… like someone barely escaping through a wall of flames.” Peter’s description of the reward of the diligent is far more desirable: “You will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 1:11 NIV). It is important, though, to realize that while salvation is a free gift, rewards are not automatic.

 It is amazing that God has actually given us the criteria by which our works will be judged. We have a pretty good idea from Scripture what God will be looking for and at when our works are judged. In The Work Book: What We Do Matters to God, I have an entire chapter entitled “The Judgment of Our Works.” I won’t elaborate here, but I present seven factors that the New Testament indicates will be the criteria the Lord uses to judge our works.

They are:

Our Motives (1 Samuel 16:7; Matthew 6:4, 6, 18; 1 Corinthians 4:5; Proverbs 21:2)

 The Royal Law of Love ( James 2:8, 12; 1 Corinthians 13:1-3)

Faithfulness (1 Timothy 1:12; 1 Corinthians 4:2; Matthew 25:21, 23, 28)

Our Potential (Matthew 25:14-30; Romans 12:6)

 Knowledge (Luke 12:47-48; John 15:22, 24; James 4:17)

Obedience (2 Corinthians 2:9; Hebrews 4:11)

Quality (1 Corinthians 3:12-15)

There is a great temptation to get involved in judging others and critiquing their efforts for the Lord. However, we must remember Paul’s admonition that we should not judge one another, but remember that we shall each give an account of our own selves before the Lord (Romans 14:10, 12).