We were discussing grades one day in a college class I was teaching. I asked the students, “Would you like it better if everyone in the class gets an “A” regardless of how hard he or she works?

Or would you rather get an “A” only if you have worked hard for it?”

They said piously, “Oh, we’d rather work hard for our grades.”

I didn’t believe them! I had heard the usual amount of groans whenever I announced a quiz or test. I had endured the regular supply of excuses for not having work done on time. I had endured the expected number of students who would argue all day to try to get an extra point. I said,

“Come on! You’re just trying to impress the teacher! Be honest. I’m not grading you on your answer to this! Don’t you want a high GPA? Why wouldn’t it be good news if every person in this class could have a guaranteed top grade?”

They said, “We wouldn’t learn as much. We wouldn’t remember as much. We don’t appreciate a grade unless we have to work for it.”

And I couldn’t talk them out of that position!

Do you agree with those students? What makes something more valuable for you-receiving it as a gift, or having to work for it?

If your landlord pays the water bill, does that mean you use water more carefully, or more lavishly? Are you more meticulous about addressing an envelope of company stationery than you are in using your own at home. If you rent a car with unlimited mileage, do you drive the car more or less? When you travel on an expense account, do you stay at the same motel you would choose for your family vacation?

If it’s true that human beings tend to place a higher value on things they have had to put forth effort to obtain, then why didn’t God set up a system of salvation by works? How can we really appreciate forgiveness or repentance or heaven at last, if it comes only as a gift?

Romans 6:23 says,

“The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

Acts 5:31 says,

“Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.”

So forgiveness and pardon and salvation are gifts, not something we earn or merit. How, then, can we truly value them as we should?

To find an answer to this dilemma, we need to understand the nature of forgiveness. Thoughts From the Mount of Blessing, page 114, describes it this way:

“God’s forgiveness is not merely a judicial act by which He sets us free from condemnation. It is not only forgiveness for sin, but reclaiming from sin. It is the outflow of redeeming love that transforms the heart.”

So forgiveness is not merely a judicial act. It is more than a cleansing of the books of heaven. It is more than a nod of the head toward heaven. It is a restored relationship with a Person. It is a transaction of love.

Love makes a difference, even on a human level in the giving and receiving of gifts. A child can laboriously put together some horrible-looking object made of glue and popsicle sticks, and the parent will value it because of love-in spite of its lack of intrinsic worth. How much more would we value a gift if both the gift and the giver were important to us.

Suppose you were in the hospital with kidney failure, and your brother came forward with the offer of one of his kidneys to save your life. Would you say to him, “Now I want to be able to truly appreciate this kidney, so how about letting me pay you $500 for it?” He would be insulted! The fact that the gift has such a great value and is given by one who loves us so much puts it beyond price.

Love makes a difference. Need makes a difference. If you are drowning, and someone throws you a life preserver, do you say, “Now wait a minute. What can I do to pay for this? I can’t really appreciate this life preserver unless I’ve earned it?” No, your sense of need prevents that kind of thinking.

What keeps forgiveness from being cheap, even though it is free? It is recognizing our desperate need. It is understanding how much it cost heaven to be able to offer this kind of gift. It is recognizing the love behind the gift, the deep longing of the Father’s heart for reconciliation with His children.

With a need like ours-and a love like His-only a gift could answer.