“Just what is an unearned reward,” you may ask? Actually, it comes in two very different forms: The most common and very acceptable one is the receiving of a gift from a loved one or a special friend.  The other form involves the taking of something by force, deception or stealth.  However, as we shall see, even the first form may contain some elements of the second.
     You will remember the argument that caused two-thirds of the angelic host, under the leadership of Satan, to be dispelled from Heaven. Once they were on Earth, they were given only provisional ruling over the people who were to dwell there.  It seems that Satan felt God should give to the Earthlings everything they wished.  Satan believed that, “They would thus have everlasting joy.”  His opposition felt that people needed to earn whatever they acquired  In modern writings this has been explained as the equivalent of God saying that it was impossible to make up without down just as it is impossible to have joy without sorrow.  Just exactly why God gave Satan the Earth to rule whenever God was absent, is not certain.  However, it would seem that Satan’s greatest talent is encouraging us to acquire an unearned reward which has been taken with no regard to the detriment this might cause someone else. Perhaps this is indeed exactly what God wished.  Let’s investigate that further:
     An example might be that of Isaac’s son Jacob.  He was obviously destined for greatness.  However, he conspired to lie to his father Isaac and thus cheat his brother Esau out of his inheritance.  This was a breach of the ninth Commandment.  As Jacob did not repent of this act he needed to be taught that his error was not acceptable.  And, as God does not, himself, inflict any hurtful act on his children, He simply removes his protection from such people for a period of time.
       Jacob was forced to leave Isaac’s territory, Canaan, and go to seek a wife at Isaac’s brother, Laban’s encampment.  However, along the way he was set upon by thieves and the dowry items of money and beasts were taken.  Jacob could not go back so he proceeded to his uncle’s.   There he quickly fell in love with Rachel, one of Laban’s daughters.  As Jacob had no dowry, Laban required him to work for seven years as Laban’s paid servant.  
      When the seven years were up, Laban tricked Jacob into wedding Leah, Laban’s oldest daughter.  However, Laban agreed if Jacob would work for him seven more years, he could have Rachel’s hand in marriage, also.  When this was accomplished, Jacob, Leah (and the children Jacob had by her) and Rachel (and her son Joseph by Jacob) headed back to Canaan, with the wealth Jacob had earned working for Laban.   
      After these 14 years of abuse by the robbers and Laban, God’s protection now was given back to Jacob.  However, he was given one more test in that he had to wrestle with an Angel to prove he would now do as God asked no matter what that was. 
      Following this, Jacob and his extended family prospered along with Leah, her 10 sons, Rachel, and her 2 sons.  Most importantly, God rewarded Jacob for his steadfast faithfulness to God and his Commandments, following his change from the man Jacob was who made the grave error in cheating his brother Esau.
     Was this time of blood, sweat and heartbreak done by God to punish Jacob and thus show him that joy cannot be appreciated without the experience of sorrow? Or would it be more correct to say that He had simply removed his protection and left Jacob to whatever evil Satan might work.  The same end is accomplished either way.
      We see this same theme repeated over and over in the Bible stories in both the Old and New Testaments.  One remembers:
       Joseph was unkind to his brothers and their vengeance on him.  This followed his vengeance on them.   And, ultimately, all 12 becoming a loving family when they had learned that “joy is better than sorrow.”
       Moses killed a man in rage and was forced to flea.  In the process he became a sheep herder and no longer a prince of Egypt.  In time he became one of  Israel’s great leaders.
      David was given the gift of being the king who would be the prime ancestor of the Messiah (which he later did.)  Over time he lost his adherence to obeying God’s laws and killed a man in order be able to marry that man’s beautiful wife, Bathsheba.  For this he lost God’s protection and ultimately was not allowed to build God’s temple, David’s promised and highly desired reward.
      Solomon was given the gift of being the wisest man on Earth.  Further, he was given the task of building God’s temple in Jerusalim, His son David’s  greatly wanted task.  Never the less, over a period of time he lost his adherence to obeying God’s laws and began allowing and participating in the worship of other gods. For this, Solomon lost God’s protection which ultimately caused the dissolution of Israel.  Its re-assembly is only happening now, over two thousand years later.
      Please notice that the general theme here is the acceptance of an unearned reward, punishment and the possibility of later redemption. 
       One might rightly ask, “That was thousands of years ago and before the advent of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.  Do the same rules apply today?”  Let’s look at a modern example:
       A Texas man committed a multiple murder a little over 22 years ago.  He was not given a death sentence for a variety of reasons that are not mentioned here for privacy reasons. Instead he was given a “life sentence.”   The man “found Christ,” as he put it, a couple of years after entering prison.  During the next 20 years he became a model prisoner and the example he set caused a great many other prisoners to want the serenity he had found.  He then would help them seek and find Our Lord.  Indeed he led so many of them to Christ that his fellow inmates nick named him, Moses!  
       As a result of his change, he was paroled in just 22 years.  His work to help others continues to this day.  And surely, when he comes to the end of his life on Earth, he will be met by Our Lord with the words, “Well done, my good and faithful servant!”  
       Could anyone wish for more? 
       Could any parent wish for more for his children?  Here is an example that may help.
      Several years ago a minister we know had agreed to give a ride to a couple who belonged to the same boating club as he.  He was a bit early when he arrived to pick them up.  The couple’s 11 year old daughter was given the task of providing conversation to the minister while he waited for his friends to get ready. For the sake of privacy, we’ll call the girl Beth.  As the conversation progressed, she let the minister know that she wished to learn about the Devil and how he “got” you.
      The minister, we’ll call him Art for privacy, explained to her that the Devil, often called Satan, works as follows:   
     First he would tempt you with a little thing.  “Beth, honestly now, did you ever take a penny from your mother’s purse while it was lying out of her sight?”  
     “Yes,” was the embarrassed reply.  
      “And following that was it just as easy to take a dime, and then a quarter, and then a half dollar, and so forth.  
      “Yes, but how did you know?”  
      Art went on to explain that is the way the Devil works.  He starts with something of almost of trivial importance and then tempts you with more and more important abuse of one or more of the 10 Commandments.  Then he has you.
      Beth nearly wept at this point, “Is there no way I can undo this?”
       “Yes,” assured Art, “All you have to do, you can do right now.  First, confess that you have sinned, you just did that.  Second, you must tell Jesus Christ that the harm you have done pains you deeply and ask Him to forgive you. Third, you must public ally state that you are a follower of Christ and all He stands for.  And forth, you must tell Him that you anxiously await being baptized by His sending the Holy Spirit to you to guide you away from sin in the future.”
     Beth blurted out, “Oh yes, yes! Please, please, I do all of that, I beg Him to please forgive me.”     
     Art calmly assured her, “It’s ok now Beth, Satan can’t have you.”  
      At this point it was as though Beth had been relieved of a heavy load off of her back.  And, as her folks had come down stairs at just that moment, Art didn’t say any more of it. 
      A few days later he received a phone call from Beth’s mother.  She told Art that before his arrival, Beth had not been able to sleep for almost two weeks.  In desperation Beth’s parents had taken her to all sorts of doctors to find the trouble.  None of them could, and all feared serious health issues might follow.  However, the night after talking with Art, Beth had gone to sleep and stayed asleep until well into the next day.  Her normal sleep habits had now returned along with her smiles and the joyous attitude which she passed on, to those who were near her.
      “What did you say to her that night, Art?”
      Art told her of the conversation and Beth’s mother responded with, “That explains it. You see, Beth’s aunt is very strong in the concept of “Hellfire and brim stone punishment from Satan, who wants the souls of people he can take.  And when Beth awoke the morning after your visit she just said, ‘Now I’m not afraid anymore of the Devil getting me while I’m asleep like Aunt _____ said he might.’”
      Obviously, the aunt had been very well meaning but she hadn’t told Beth the whole story.  She hadn’t told her:

    “The Devil can only try to claim him or her who has accepted an unearned reward!”  As was said before, claim inthis sence is the choice then continuing to choose the unearned reward thence forward.

       [To this it should be added that anyone, who has repented of his or her sins, committed to Jesus Christ to follow him, stated publically that he or she has done this and then asked for and has accepted the Holy Spirit, cannot be taken by Satan unless he or she denies the advice of Holy Spirit at the time of his or her Judgment before God.]