A Life God Rewards: Why Everything You Do Today Matters Forever [Hardcover]

Wilkinson organises the book around two "keys" to eternal reward. The first key is belief (chapters seven onwards), and the second is how our works affect our repayment in Heaven (chapters one to six).

The author presents a number of interesting concepts - such as the idea of property ownership in Heaven:
"What is surprising is what Jesus promises a faithful steward of His treasure. It is not, as you might expect, that you'll steward more treasure in Heaven, but that you will own it." (p. 86)

Wilkinson's argument rests upon the verse in Matthew 6: 19-20:
"Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal..."
The problem some might have with this verse is Wilkinson's literal interpretation of it. Surely the treasure in Heaven is to be able to worship God continually. Without evangelism...?

There are a number of other ideas, which are cause for concern.
For example, in 'Hell by Degrees' (p.97), the author 'demonstrates' how eternal punishment is related to how bad we have been on Earth. However, I think for me, Wilkinson's understanding of Hell is woefully inadequate. How would his argument stand up if we begin to conceptualise hell as simply being the eternal absence of God? What worse punishment could there be than that? Would Wilkinson modify his argument along the lines of Very bad=No access to God, Just a bit bad=some access to God? It is submitted that that just does not hold water.

Tough questions such as: "will directing your giving to a high-profile civic fund please Him as much as giving it top your church's missions fund?" (p.88), miss the mark, and do little to encourage social action.

But then, not completely unexpectedly, Wilkinson seems to spot the problem with his argument, and adds that belief fills the gaps that our good works miss. A bit like Tort fills the gaps in contract. Since, "no amount of good works can save us" (p.97).

So where are we left at the end of the book? Well, I was confused by Wilkinson's contradictions. I understand the points he sought to make, but the Bible verses and other quotations were shoehorned in, as if to prove his points. God's grace is almost completely overlooked - something find rather odd. This book comes in no less than seven different English-language editions. Why? It's more of a door wedge than a doorstop.

Wilkinson's focus is on Heaven being the goal: but I would argue that God's glory is the goal - Heaven's the bonus.

You likely won't get a good return on giving from a motive of greed for heavenly rewards and stature as this book came across to me as promoting. The book would have done well to inspire a motive of love from a pure heart as the reason for giving.