How To Receive A Royal Reward Series

In modern educational psychology we read such statements as,

"Learning takes place only when the act that is performed is

reinforced or rewarded." And, "Without reward, people fail to

learn." Educators are more and more realizing that rewards play a

major part in teaching that is effective. God was well aware of this

truth long before man. In Heb. 11:6 we read, "But without faith it is

impossible to please Him, for he that comes to God must believe that

He is, and that He is a rewarded of those who diligently seek Him."

In Matt. 5:11-12 we read, "Blessed are you when men shall revile

you and persecute you, and say all manner of evil against you

falsely, for my sake. Rejoice and be exceeding glad for great is your

reward in heaven."

To want rewards is perfectly normal. Intelligent beings take a

course of action that results in the best reward by nature. We are

made that way by God. James is only following the teaching of his

divine brother when he tells us to count it all joy when we fall into

trials, knowing there is great reward in endurance. James is trying

to teach us the secret of receiving a royal reward. He breaks this

practical lesson into two sections. One is positive and the other is

negative.

I. HE DECLARES A FINAL OBJECTIVE. v. 12.

James says we are not suffering for sufferings sake just as the

football players are not on the field taking those spills just for the

sake of putting their body to a test. They are enduring those trials

because they have a goal to reach. The Christian who endures trials

also has a goal to reach, and it is the final objective for which he was

created. It is to receive the royal reward of the crown of life.

When Jesus spoke to the church of Smyrna thought the Apostle

John in Rev. 2:10 he said, "Do not be afraid of what you are about

to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test

you, and you will suffer persecution for 10 days. Be faithful, even to

the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life." One of the

early church martyrs was Polycarp, the Bishop of Smyrna. He

refused to sacrifice to Caesar. At his trial the Proconsul said,

"Curse Christ and I will release you." Polycarp spoke those words

for which he has become famous. "Eighty and six years have I

served Him, and He never did me wrong. How then can I

blaspheme my King who saved me?"

He was put to the stake and the fire was kindled, but wing blew the

flame around him, and so the executioner killed him with a sword.

He was faithful unto death, and, therefore, he received the reward

that both Jesus and James speak of-the crown of life.

What is this crown of life that is worth dying for? It is the

ultimate goal, and final objective of our existence. It is that quality

of life which is in perfect harmony with God. To live without fellowship

with God is to have only the rags of life. To live in perfect

fellowship with God is to have the crown of life. The crown of life

goes only to those who endure all things for the sake of Christ. It is

that quality of life that enables a person to reign with Christ because

they are in perfect harmony with the Lord of life. It is the life of

love, praise, and service which we see displayed by the saints in

heaven as they are pictured in Revelation.

How do we receive this royal reward? James says the road to this

reward is the road of endurance. Kings only want tried men in their

army, and so how much more does the King of Kings want tried men

and women to serve with Him? The trials of life are training us for

the day of our coronation when we receive the crown of life. The

requirement is that we endure. It is not just suffering trials that is

important, for that is as easy as falling off a log. It is the enduring of

the trials that is vital. It is not blessed are they who escape, but

blessed are they who endure. Endurance is the key, and this means

that we must be convinced that suffering can be successful, and that

it prepares us for attaining our final objective of being Christlike.

Only as we are convinced that trials can be of worth can we endure.

Robert Service wrote,

And so in the strife of the battle of life,

Its easy to fight when you're winning;

Its easy to slave, and starve and be brave,