Customer Reviews

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

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(17)

 

 

This book is way overpriced. I feel that if this is meant to be an inspiring book it should be written for everyone, everyone including those who can afford 10 dollars on a tiny book. WWJD? would He charge people 10 bucks for inspiring them? I highly doubt it.

This book frankly amazed me. I was amazed at the price for such a small book; and even more surprised by Wilkinson's central thesis, that what we do here on Earth affects how we are rewarded in Heaven. The book seems to have basked in nothing but positive reviews - which are simply misleading. I know this is popular teaching in the US - less so in the UK. Why write a theological book when you can get to the top of the NY Times Bestsellers list with this?

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.

Synopsis: God will reward you 10,000 fold in heaven for what you give up and away in this life. If you want to learn much else you may learn a lot more elsewhere.

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.

I remember when I first learned that good works would not get me into heaven -- that the only way to heaven was accepting Jesus as my Lord and Savior. Immediately a question popped into my head. If accepting Jesus is the only way into heaven, and I have that taken care of, why not just coast for the rest of my life? After all, if good works won't get me into heaven, then how important could they really be? This book has the answer -- very!

Backing everything up with scripture and quotes from the likes of Martin Luther, John Wesley, John Calvin, C.S. Lewis, Charles Swindoll, Charles Stanley and Billy Graham, Wilkinson explains that our behavior doesn't determine where we will spend eternity, but it definitely determines how we will spend eternity. He assembles a solid case to show that our eternal reward is determined by how well we manage our lives.

Would you approach life differently if you knew that everything you did ultimately mattered? Would you live a richer life as a result? Would you be a blessing to more people? If you are looking to live a life worthy of reward, pick up this book and get excited about the possibilities. Life will take on a whole new meaning.

Larry Hehn, author of Get the Prize: Nine Keys for a Life of Victory

This little book if full of morsels of truth, that will give you much food for thought, and inspire you to make the very most of your talents, every day of your life.
Dr. Wilkinson has a way of putting wisdom and principles for a life that pleases the Lord into words that make them immediate and so easy to grasp.
No matter how familiar I am with the subjects he writes about, I always get startling clarity on something vital that I had not noticed before. There is also much insight given into the many parables of Jesus, which is most helpful.

In Chapter # 1, "Keyhole to the Stars", the first subjects mentioned are the two keys that indicate the "where and how" of our Final Destination; the first is belief, and the second is behavior.
The following five chapters deal with the behavior part, and are about the purpose of life, and how our choices and "works" are so important, what is meant by "repayment" for works done, those opportunities for good actions that we might have passed by, and much more. Also discussed are our motives, and how well we steward what God has given us.
Chapter 7 brings us back to the essential key of belief, and the final chapter ends with a pledge of allegiance as a "citizen of heaven"; the last six pages have quotes from Christian leaders, from Augustine to John Wesley, on the subject of eternal rewards.
Dr. Wilkinson gives us all a challenge, "...to see your true calling today and to seize the opportunity that is right in front of you. Don't waste another day living for less".

By the "equation" set out in the author's two books, someone like John the Baptist
should have been more blessed than King David. But, God chose to bless each
of us according to "His Plan". After all, Paul was chosen to carry forth the
Gospel with many other brethrens. According to the standards set "by men"
today, Paul, a predator who hunted down early Christians wouldn't have had a
chance of being elected as a major contributor for the New Testament. Would
you anoint a serial killer with wisdom, and cleanse his sins with the sacrifice
of your only Son? No, because our society cannot even forgive an adulterer or
a serial rapist. But God chose to bless Paul according to His Plan. I am glad
Jesus did not pray in the Garden of Gethsemane, "God, give me your entire
'warehouse' of blessings now!" Rather, our Lord said, "Your will be done." Do
you know of any Christians today who would be willing to follow in the footsteps
of Jesus and give up his/her possessions, or better yet, John the Baptist, live
out in the desert and eat locust? Think about that: That is an even greater
blessing than Jabez experienced, and yet nothing is written about it. John had
nothing coming into the world except the Holy Spirit and had nothing when he
left but the Holy Spirit. Someone should write a book on how John the Baptist prayed and see how popular that book becomes
in today's society.

Review on "The Prayer of Jabez" and "A Life God Rewards".

The intent to convey the beauty of a prayer or a righteous life that God honored (or is honoring) is wonderful! But the objection that a few others have that Wilkinson should address in future editions VIGOROUSLY is what happens when a Christian doesn't experience the blessings that they so desire, whether it be for healing or financial blessing. As we are all aware in life, we see an abundant amount of people become blessed who may not be Christians and yet, at the same time, see our own Christian brethren lose his/her job, even a home, family and/or marital support. If you deny this, turn back to the Bible and look at the trials that many of God's people went through. Bottom line is this: (Some would argue) Since God poured His blessings upon King David (even after all the brutal sins that were committed), why wouldn't they receive blessings "above and beyond" what King David was anointed? Because it is additionally based on God's will, along with our prayer requests. So, it isn't just based on our prayers or the way we live life, but how God chooses--by His own will--to bless His children.

To the editorial staff, I wrote the following review:

C.S. Lewis' needed to get a reality check., March 13, 2003
Reviewer: Holden from Massachusetts

No one is arguing whether it's ok to accept God's rewards. That's a moot point. C.S. Lewis'needed to get a reality check...

Please remove my review of this book as I feel there are a few
readers who have misunderstood my critique. Thank you.

This book just focuses on what Jesus focused on....Eternity. We are not living for this world but for the next. A Life God Rewards helps you understand that Jesus so often spoke of not only what to do but why you should do it.

Rewards are not the only reason, but they are a completely valid reason to live for Christ. As a matter of fact, Christ commands us to Store Up Treasures in Heaven, so that Rust and Moths will not destroy.

Why do so many Christians have a problem with Jesus saying this? Why do they take shots at Bruce Wilkinson for repeating it and getting us to think more about Christ and Eternity? Not sure. But, I did read one negative review that said Bruce should follow in the footsteps of Mother Theresa and move to Asia or India....well FYI, he is working to save Africa, feed Africa and help rid the nation of Aids..all for Christ's Glory. I would be very careful in judging this man of God. For as A Life God Rewards points out, one day, we will all give account.

I was very pleased to see Wilkinson address the topic of rewards from God. One of my Sunday School teachers asked me for a book on this very topic just before this book was published. At that time, I could find nothing on God's rewards for Christian service. Now, Wilkinson has given us his take on the topic.

To be honest, I wasn't grabbed by this book in the opening pages like I had been with the previous two in this series. However, from about page 30 on I really wanted to keep going.

The book is not, as some have suggested in other reviews, a claim that salvation is by works. Wilkinson makes very clear in this book that faith determines your eternal destination, works determines what you do once you get there. So many people think we'll just throw our crowns at Jesus' feet and then all be equal in heaven. Wilkinson shows this is not even close to what the Bible teaches.

He deals well with the passages that speak of rewards in heaven for our works on earth. I had never heard anyone discuss the possibility of suffering loss in heaven based on one's works. He explains the idea well and defends it ably, though the reader is not told what suffering loss in heaven is like.

The very best part of the book comes between pages 60-70. Every Christian should read those ten pages if they read nothing else this year. The whole point is that we are judged based on how we did compared to how we could have done. The section is excellent!

While this little book does not cover everything I wish it covered (nor does it say everything I wish it said), I am very thankful that Wilkinson has brought this topic back to the forefront. I hope several more authors will follow his lead on expounding this topic for us. I encourage you to read this book.