Because God’s eternal purposes may require the forfeiture of earthly benefits, we cannot make temporal rewards the chief motive of our obedience. Such rewards are not absolutely promised in Scripture and would be unsuitable as the chief aim of our lives. If Christians always received material blessing as a recompense for obedience, then it would be impossible to separate personal duty from divine bribery. Christianity would become merely a bartering system for personal gain. God’s ends are not so shortsighted or earthbound.
— Bryan Chapell (b. 1954), Theologe, Pastor und Autor
Topics: Discipleship, Faith & Trust, Money & Possessions
Occasions: For Reflection
Bryan Chapell
Bryan Chapell (* 1954) ist ein US-amerikanischer presbyterianischer Pastor, Theologe und ehemaliger Präsident des Covenant Theological Seminary. Bekannt wurde er durch sein Konzept der christuszentrierten Auslegungspredigt, das biblische Texte ausgehend von menschlicher Gebrochenheit konsequent auf die Gnade Gottes in Christus bezieht. Für Bibelleser bieten seine Schriften methodische Zugänge, um Bibeltexte jenseits von reinem Moralismus im heilsgeschichtlichen Zusammenhang zu verstehen.
All quotes by Bryan Chapell (42)
Jesus calls us not to a new religion, but to life.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Prayer does not equip us for greater works – prayer is the greater work.
Oswald Chambers
In a sense, learning to follow Jesus is simply learning to pray the Lord’s Prayer.
N.T. Wright
Being a Christian is not a 'do-it-yourself' affair.
Jerry Bridges
God has not called us to success, only to faithfulness.
Mother Teresa
He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.
Jim Elliot
Do not be afraid of Christ. He demands nothing and he gives everything.
Pope Benedict XVI
A Christian is not a man who never goes wrong, but a man who is enabled to repent.
C.S. Lewis