Rewards of the Blameless
Blameless, Part 4
Last week we talked about the characteristics of those who are blameless. Primarily, they walk faithfully with God and do their best to not commit willful sins. But why does blamelessness even matter? What rewards will we get if we are blameless? If we look at Job, we see that God allowed Satan to take away all of Job’s family, material possessions, and even his physical health (Job 1–2). Then after Job stayed faithful to God, God blessed him with double what he had before (Job 42). But God doesn’t guarantee physical comfort or material possessions on this earth. In fact, Jesus says in John 16:33 that “In this world you will have trouble.” Then he also says, “But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
Let’s divide our discussion of the rewards of the blameless into two categories: physical rewards and spiritual rewards. Interestingly, the spiritual rewards are much more numerous than the physical rewards!
Physical Rewards
In Genesis 17:1–2, God calls Abram to be blameless, and then he makes a covenant between God and Abram. This covenant with God is Abram’s reward for being blameless. Although this is primarily a spiritual blessing, part of God’s covenant with Abram included physical blessing on this earth.
Psalm 18 is a fairly long psalm, but it recounts David’s praise to God after he was delivered from his enemies who were trying to kill him. David states that the reason God delivered him from his enemies was because of his blamelessness.
Spiritual Rewards
Psalm 15 states that the one who is blameless can dwell in God’s sacred tent. It gives a list of characteristics for this person who can dwell with God, such as being righteous, speaking the truth, and despising evil. Then in verse 5, it says, “Whoever does these things will never be shaken.” My interpretation of this is that their faith in God will not be shaken. That’s definitely a blessing!
Another reward for the blameless is an inheritance. Psalm 37:18 states, “The blameless spend their days under the Lord’s care, and their inheritance will endure forever.” This inheritance is also the focus of Proverbs 28:10: “Whoever leads the upright along an evil path will fall into their own trap, but the blameless will receive a good inheritance.” What is this inheritance that the Bible speaks of? We get a glimpse in 1 Peter 1:3–5:
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.”
From Proverbs, we see that God gives protection to those who are blameless. Proverbs 2:7–8 states, “He holds success in store for the upright, he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless, for he guards the course of the just and protects the way of his faithful ones.” Some people might look at these verses out of context and say that God also promises “success” to those who are blameless and upright, interpreting that to mean success in this world, with increased wealth and possessions. However, in context, this passage is talking about searching for wisdom. Those who are upright will have success in that search, leading them to the fear of the Lord and the knowledge of God (vs. 1–5).
One reward of the blameless is that God will be delighted when he looks at them. Proverbs 11:20 says, “The Lord detests those whose hearts are perverse, but he delights in those whose ways are blameless.”
My favorite passage in the Bible is Philippians 2:14–16. Perhaps that’s where my interest in the word blameless comes from! This passage says,
“Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, ‘children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.’ Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life. And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain.”
One reward of being blameless (and encouraging others to follow God) is that you will be able to stand before Christ and know that all of your efforts were worth something—you did not labor in vain.
Similarly, 1 Thessalonians 3:13 states, “May he [God] strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones.” This is one of the greatest rewards of being blameless—being able to stand before God as one who is holy.
Final Thoughts on Rewards
Looking at this list, it’s easy to see that most of the rewards of being blameless are spiritual rewards—knowledge of God, spiritual protection, eternal inheritance, and standing before God as one who is holy on judgment day. It’s also easy to see that the rewards that are missing from this list are the ones that most people on this earth are striving for—material possessions, wealth, and an easy and comfortable life. Matthew 6:19–21 says,
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
So, which one will you choose?