How many like
to get recognized for a job well done; In the work place, when playing
sports, blue ribbon for the best pie at a fair? Sure when you work hard
most like to receive a reward. But what about our service in God's
kingdom? I have heard and scriptures confirm, example Matthew 6:19-21,
that some look for their rewards here on this earth and find great
pleasure in displaying them as treasures and speaking of all they have
accomplished in the kingdom of God. Now appreciating a thank you, is not
a sin, and should be given when needed. It is motive a Christian
carries in their heart, is the thank you the motivation for what we do
in the kingdom? Or is it out of a pure heart loving Jesus and desiring
to serve, minister, pleasing God not man?
Defining reward: giving in recognizition of ones service, effort or achievement. Or another word is prize.
Heaven
is for the saved, yet not every believer receives rewards. Rewards are
for those who remain steadfast in their love for Jesus. The scriptures
say every believer will stand before the Judgment Seat also known as the
Bema Seat of Christ. It is here that we will be judged with this, "What
did we do with Jesus the Christ, once we were saved?" "In all our good
works what was our motivation?"
"Will He find faith when He returns?"
1
Corinthians 3:13-15 each one's work will become clear; for the Day will
declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test
each one's work, of what sort it is. If anyone's work which he has
built on it endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone's work is
burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as
through fire.
1 Corinthians 4:5 tells us Jesus will bring to light the hidden of darkness and reveal the counsels of the heart.
2
Corinthians 5:9-10 Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or
absent, to be well pleasing to Him. For we must all appear before the
Judgment Seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in
the body, according to what he has done whether good or bad.
So we can see just in these 3 verses that a day of accountability for the believer is coming!
Luke 18:8b..... Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes will He really find faith on the earth?
Jesus
said this after the parable of the persistent widow. We have been
taught and I believe it is a parable to keep praying, until God says
stop! At the same time I believe it speaks of our faith, do we persevere
in faith not giving up as the widow persevered in her request. Jesus is
coming to catch away a glorious bride free of spot, wrinkle and
blemish, let us make ourselves ready for that catching away.
What did Jesus say about rewards?
Revelation 22:12 And behold I am coming quickly and My reward is with Me, to give to everyone according to his work.
Hebrews
11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes
to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who
diligently seek Him.
Not
all rewards are something that we hold in our hands or place on a shelf
of honor. Our crowns are surely a reward that when received we will lay
at His feet. But let us look at a few scriptures that show us our reward
we keep forever!
1
Corinthians 9:18 What is my reward then? That when I preach the gospel
of Christ without charge, that I may not abuse my authority in the
gospel.
A pastor's reward,
or anyone who faithfully shares the gospel of Christ; not for monetary
value, but to see lives saved and to see the kingdom of God grow in this
life. To see this is a reward in the present.
Philippians 3:14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ
Colossians
3:23-24 And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to
men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the
inheritance for you serve the Lord Christ.
Jesus
Christ is both our prize and our inheritance. The word says we are co
heirs with Christ. Our inheritance, eternal life, is our reward, now and
forever more.
In Revelation we are told 2 specific rewards that will be given the believer in Christ.
Revelation
2:17 He who has ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I
will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which
no one knows except him who receives it.
Now
some in this verse I do not have a clear understanding, but in this we
find rewards given to the one who overcomes. The word tells us that we
overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony, we do
not grow weary nor discouraged, but we keep pressing forward. I do
however understand the white stone; in the days of Rome, the winning
athletes would receive a white stone, this stone was their admission
into all the activities following the event including the meal that they
would be present at.
Revelation
19:7-8 Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage
of the Lamb has come and His wife has made herself ready. And to her it
was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine
linen is the righteous acts of the saints.
The
scriptures teach us that the bride of Christ will wear white garments,
wedding garments. As seen in many scriptures these being only a few:
Matthew 22:1-14, Ephesians 5:24-27, Revelation 3:5 and many more
including Old Testament.
Now
"fine linen" is more than just a white garment. It is a fabric made
very strong and more absorbent than regular material. If my memory
serves me correctly the garments of the priests were made from linen.
But the "fine linen" mentioned in Revelation 3:7-8 is speaking of our
righteous acts. Question: Will everyone in heaven have on garments of
fine linen or will some just have on white garments?
Remember
rewards, as crowns are based on what we have done with our lives since
our salvation, it does not change our salvation. The scriptures teach us
that apart from Christ our own righteousness is as flithy rags, though
there are a lot of good people without Christ their righteousness will
not get them into heaven.
Ephesians
2:10 tells us that God has already prepared good works for us to do. So
are we doing them? Or are we picking and choosing what good work we
"think" we are to do?
The
book of James speaks a lot about faith and works, remember he says
"faith by itself without works is dead" and "I will show you my faith by
my works" and of course this one "he that knows to do good and does not
do it, to him it is sin".
We are told "be holy for I am holy", to "lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness". And 1John speaks this:
1John 2:29 If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone who practices righteousness is born of Him
1John 3:3 And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself as He is pure.
There
are some things we do not have to inquire from God because He has
already instructed us ( go back and read James 2:15-16, 1John 3:17-18,
James 1:22-27)
It is the
indwelling Holy Spirit within us that empowers us to do righteous deeds.
We were created to do good works, a good work or meeting a need someone
may have is not about spiritual gifting, it is about being obedient to
the word Jesus has already given.
Not
every believer is serving in the kingdom of God, that is an invitation
from Jesus at the point of our salvation, when we accept this invitation
we carry the kingdom of God within us and we are about our Father's
business. We renew our minds by His word, we tear down the strongholds
in our minds, we seek God by surrendering our will and our way. We
follow Jesus and where He leads, not a religion, a pastor, a
denomination, or the world.
Today we find too many following many and few following Jesus.
Yes
we can loose crowns, because Jesus said we could, when we become weary,
discouraged, and give up and quit. Will all be dressed in fine clean
and bright? No because not all will do the righteous acts God has
prepared for us to do.
I
desire to be obedient to Christ, to change my lifestyle, to guard my
heart by guarding the gateways to my heart which are: 1. Our minds, 2.
Our eyes 3. Our ears and 4. Our mouths. To listen to and for a need that
I might have the ability to meet, to serve in the kingdom of God and
through my local church, to use my gifts and talents as God has desired
me too, and to fulfill the calling in my life. That is the desire of my
heart. And to hear these words "Well done good and faithful servant".
How about you?
