Rewards and Trust

Here’s a thought-provoking snippet from the writings of St. John Climacus: “God in his unspeakable providence has arranged that some receive their reward for their toils even before they set to work, others while actually working, and others when their work is done, and still others only after the time of their death. Let the reader ask himself which of these four was given the opportunity of practicing the greatest trust.”

If our faith is really a personal trusting faith, it is permeated with the last item of doctrinal faith listed in the Apostles’ Creed: “I believe . . . in life everlasting.” When existentially experienced, our hope-laced faith is simply trust in our divine benefactor. Like a youngster glowing with eager glee on Christmas Eve in anticipation of receiving his gifts on Christmas morning, we have no doubt that eternal bliss awaits us. Thus, trusting faith finds itself eagerly anticipating, after we survive the fleeting troubles of this life, the eternal ecstasy of being “overjoyed,” as Peter says (1 Pt4:13). “We are confident of better things. . . . God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him” (Heb 6:9-10).

Only a callous soul would ask, “If I really trust God, what’s in it for me?” The question is a bit crude, but it does deserve an answer.

In a divine response to reliant souls the Lord bestows countless graces and blessings: “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him” (Jer 17:7). A great reward is promised to those who consistently practice this trust: “Do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded (Heb 10:35, emphasis mine). At least part of Zophar’s advice to Job emphasized the security element of the reward, even in this life: “If you devote your heart to him and stretch out your hands to him . . . you will stand firm and without fear. . . . You will be secure . . . and take your rest in safety” (Jb 11:13-17). The author of Proverbs restates this same advantage, but more succinctly: “Whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe” (Prv 19:25).

A flourishing trust in Providence looks far beyond this life for safety and security; it keeps us eagerly anticipating a future reward that staggers our imagination because it is eternal--“an inheritance that can never perish” (1 Pt 1:4, emphasis mine). “God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever” (Ps 73:26, emphasis mine).

Those who master this virtue of trusting in God as a loving Father are never disappointed: “I am the Lord; those who hope in me will not be disappointed” (Is 49:23). Paul adds, “Hope does not disappoint us, because God [the Father] has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit” (Rom 5:5). To complete the Trinitarian focus, Paul says elsewhere, “Such confidence as this is ours through Christ before God” (2 Cor 3:4). This never-disappointed confidence in the Godhead thus warrants the classical exhortation of the epistle to the Hebrews: “Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence” (Heb 4:16).

While God will never disappoint us, we may disappoint him: “I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love” (Rv 2:4). His love-animated trust must not be just a sporadic or passing feeling (such as a momentary spiritual high after a sermon on this subject). Like all virtues, it must be activated and practiced consistently and perseveringly.

This excerpt is from the book Pathways of Trust, by John H. Hampsch,C.M.F., originally published by Servant Publications. It and other of Fr. Hampsch's books and audio/visual materials can be purchased from Claretian Teaching Ministry, 20610 Manhattan Pl, #120, Torrance, CA 90501-1863. Phone 1-310-782-6408.