The world turns on incentives. Economists, psychologists, and neuroscientists, all have come to the conclusion that people, all people, only do things because they have a reason to do them. Different people are motivated by different things, but there is a common thread of getting something in return for your actions in every human behavior.

For example, from the beginning of human history, people have had jobs for which they got paid. The best hunter got the best or most meat. Over time, the currency that earnings were measured in changed from meat to metal to paper with old dude’s faces on it, but the concept remained the same. This thought process has been taught to every generation on Earth, and ours is no different, we are told we must earn what we want. That way of thinking, as we grow older, applies not only to our profession, but our relationships.

“Trust must be earned.” “You have to earn the respect of your coworkers.” This is the

way we approach our most basic relationships in life. From the time you are born to the time you die, we learn that relationships are built on merit, and merit alone. We must be kind, respectful, trustworthy, funny, entertaining, and chill at the same time in order to continue to earn the friendship of another. After time, we believe that we may just have built up enough “friendship currency” to gain a little wiggle room and relax a little bit more, but boy are those relationships rare.

Unfortunately, I’m not here to tell you that this system is going to change any time soon. Humans will always judge humans based on first impressions, and putting your best foot forward, while nerve racking, is important. The thing I am here to tell you is this: When it comes to God, you were never built to earn anything. You were built to work, but you were not built to earn. God has offered his righteousness, qualification, forgiveness, and perfection to you despite your shortcomings.

You would never take a job you knew you could never complete. Why? Because you would never get paid. We can’t ever be perfect like God is. We, as broken human beings, will never be “qualified” to do the work God lays in front of us, but God isn’t throwing us into a lose-lose situation. He pays us up front. He offers us a relationship with Him, complete with satisfaction, fulfillment, purpose, joy, peace, and love, not because of our merit, but in spite of our lack of it.

So, awesome, I don’t have to earn God’s love or qualification. I guess I’m good now, right? Wrong. There is still work to be done. When you accept that free offer of grace, it doesn’t mean you’re off the hook. God calls you and you alone to glorify Him in a totally unique and wonderful way. God calls you to change the world, and changing the world is hard work, but don’t confuse being called to work with earning a relationship with God. You have that. It is finished. You’re qualified because of Christ. It doesn’t go away.

So, when you walk into a new stage of life, filled with new potential relationships, know that you will have to earn the respect and trust of your coworkers, bosses, peers, and classmates, but you will never have to earn the delight and affection of your Father in heaven. Know that no matter what those people think of you, He sees you as a world changer, and He’s ready to get to work.