REWARDS

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?