Question 63: God has promised to reward good works in this life and the next, so why do you so neglect them?

Question 63: God has promised to reward good works in this life and the next, so why do you so neglect them? 

Answer: Because the reward is not a reward for effort, but a gift of grace.

Most pastors in today's church communities claim that, like worldly rewards, there will be rewards (compensations) in the kingdom of God. They say it's a gift of grace, but they're actually trying to motivate believers to strive for the expectation of reward.

Hebrews 11:6 "And without faith it is impossible to please God, for whoever would come to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards (misdapodotes μισθαποδότης) those who diligently seek him." Misdapodotes is not a reward, but an inheritance. It means that God gives an inheritance in the kingdom of God to those who have faith.

1 Corinthians 9:24-26 Or do you not know that all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may receive the prize. Or do you not know that all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may receive the prize. Every athlete is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown (stephanon), but we an imperishable. So then I do not run aimlessly, nor fight as one who beats the air.

The Apostle Paul uses the example of athletics, saying that the prize goes to the first place winner. He argues that just as people in the world desperately strive for first place, shouldn't those who have received the inheritance of God's kingdom through faith strive to spread the gospel with the same mindset? He's saying how truly remarkable is the inheritance of God's kingdom.

The crown (laurel wreath) obtained through victory in worldly sports will decay, but the inheritance obtained in the kingdom of God will never decay. Paul speaks of this with the hope that believers, mindful of God's will, will be able to spread the gospel wholeheartedly, with a truly grateful heart.
Most churchgoers today portray the rewards of the kingdom of God in worldly terms. Therefore, false teachers deceive believers into believing that if they have attained salvation and diligently strive for rewards, they will receive both heavenly rewards and blessings on earth. They claim that heavenly rewards include homes, the size of which varies depending on the individual's efforts.
 Blessings on earth, they claim, will include the blessings of children and material wealth for those who diligently serve and work for the church. We must not fall for the deceptions of these false teachers.

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