Earning vs. Meriting:
Clarifying a Long-Debated Topic
The difference between "earning" and "meriting" has been a key topic in discussions between Catholics and Protestants, especially when it comes to salvation, grace, and the role of good works. While these terms might seem similar, they actually mean very different things and carry distinct theological implications. Understanding these differences can help clarify a commonly misunderstood aspect of Christian faith and encourage unity among believers instead of continued division.
Earning: as in a “Transaction”
When you earn something, you receive a reward based on what you’ve done. It’s like a transaction, where the reward is deserved as a matter of fairness or justice. For example:
A worker earns their paycheck by completing a job.
A student earns their diploma by meeting academic requirements.
Earning is all about the connection between effort and reward—it’s measurable and directly tied to what you do. But this idea doesn’t fit with how salvation works in Christian theology. The Bible makes it clear that salvation isn’t something you can earn by your own efforts. As St. Paul writes in Ephesians 2:8-9:
“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not from you; it is the gift of God; it is not from works, so no one may boast.”
In other words, salvation is not something God owes us for what we’ve done. It’s a gift that goes beyond anything we could achieve on our own—a reflection of His incredible generosity and love.
Meriting: A Response to Grace
Meriting, on the other hand, isn’t about earning something on your own but about cooperating with God’s grace. In Catholic theology, merit recognizes that God chooses to reward actions that are done in partnership with His grace. It’s always rooted in God’s initiative and generosity.
Here’s how it works:
God’s Initiative: All merit starts with God’s grace. Even our ability to do good comes from Him. As St. Augustine said, “When God crowns our merits, He crowns His own gifts.”
Aimed at Service: The rewards of merit are spiritual blessings or graces that help believers continue serving God and others. These merits align with God’s will and are given for His purposes.
The Council of Trent emphasizes this by stating:
“If anyone says that divine grace through Christ Jesus is given for this only, that man may be able more easily to live justly and to merit eternal life, as if by free will without grace he were able to do both, though with difficulty, let him be anathema.”
This highlights that grace isn’t just a helping hand—it’s the essential foundation for any action that has true merit in God’s eyes.
Side Note: It’s important to clarify the meaning of “anathema” as used here. In the context of the Council of Trent, “anathema” does not mean the Church is cursing or damning someone to hell. Instead, it is a formal declaration that a particular belief is incompatible with Catholic teaching. The term reflects the Church's effort to define doctrine clearly, not to pass judgment on individuals.
By understanding these distinctions, we can better appreciate the role of grace in our lives and how it shapes our relationship with God.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) further affirms: “The merit of man before God in the Christian life arises from the fact that God has freely chosen to associate man with the work of his grace. The fatherly action of God is first on his own initiative, and then follows man’s free acting through his collaboration, so that the merit of good works is to be attributed in the first place to the grace of God, then to the faithful” (CCC 2008). This highlights that while human cooperation is involved, the primary source of merit is God's grace.
Additionally, the Catechism states: “Since the initiative belongs to God in the order of grace, no one can merit the initial grace of forgiveness and justification, at the beginning of conversion. Moved by the Holy Spirit and by charity, we can then merit for ourselves and for others the graces needed for our sanctification, for the increase of grace and charity, and for the attainment of eternal life” (CCC 2010).
How Humans View Earning and Meriting
Humans naturally view earning as transactional—a matter of justice where one receives something deserved for their effort. Earning raises up images of tangible rewards like money, items, or other material goods. It is a straightforward exchange: work performed, payment received.
Meriting, however, evokes a different understanding. When we think of merit, we do not picture material possessions or transactional exchanges. Instead, we associate merit with spiritual gifts from God. These gifts come in whatever form He wills, often as blessings or graces to help us love others and serve Him. Merits remind us of God’s generosity and His desire to work through us, not as payment for services provided but as a means to fulfill His divine plan. Thus, merits are rooted in relationship, not transaction.
Earning vs. Meriting: Key Differences
Source and Nature:
Earning: Relies on human effort and results in tangible rewards owed in justice.
Meriting: Relies on God’s grace and results in spiritual blessings given freely by God.
Purpose:
Earning: Focused on personal achievement and tangible outcomes.
Meriting: Directed toward enabling further service to God and others.
Relationship with God:
Earning: Reflects a transactional relationship.
Meriting: Reflects working together with God in a relationship of love and trust.
Merit as a Gift and Responsibility
Merit is best understood as a divine acknowledgment of faith and cooperation. It is not something we demand or expect but something we humbly receive. Merit belongs to God but is entrusted to us, His servants, so that He may live and act through us.
Merits are not private possessions but spiritual gifts given for the benefit of the Church and the world. For instance, graces received through prayer, good works, or acts of charity often empower us to love and serve others more deeply. These merits enable us to participate in Our Lord’s mission, reflecting His glory and extending His Kingdom.
A Call to Humble Reception
A crucial aspect of merit is the humility required to receive it. We cannot approach God with a spirit of entitlement, expecting specific rewards for our efforts. Instead, we must remain humble recipients, recognizing that all good things come from Him. As John 15:5 reminds us, “Apart from Me, you can do nothing.”
Meriting, then, is not about accumulating personal accolades but about acknowledging God’s generosity and allowing His grace to flow through us. It is a call to deeper faith, trust, and cooperation with His will.
Bridging the Gap Between Catholics and Protestants
Understanding the distinction between earning and meriting can help resolve misconceptions between Catholic and Protestant perspectives. Protestants rightly emphasize that salvation is a free gift that cannot be earned, while Catholics clarify that merit is always rooted in grace and oriented toward God’s purposes. Both traditions agree on the primacy of God’s grace and the necessity of faith. By appreciating these nuances, we can foster a richer dialogue and shared commitment to living as humble, grace-filled servants of Christ.
Conclusion
Earning and meriting reflect two fundamentally different dynamics. While earning is transactional and focused on human effort, meriting is about relationship and rooted in God’s grace. Understanding this distinction invites us to embrace our role as humble recipients of God’s gifts, cooperating with His will to serve Him and others. In doing so, we acknowledge that all merits ultimately belong to God and are entrusted to us for His glory. May this understanding inspire us to live lives of faith, gratitude, and love, always recognizing that we are instruments of His grace.