A. One day a professor, a preacher and a professional golfer went deer hunting together.
1. They were all novices, but wanted to try it.
2. They had been out all day and towards dusk they all spotted a 5 point buck at the same time.
3. They each took aim and all three fired a shot at the moving target.
4. The buck went down, and so they rushed over to where the deer fell to the ground.
5. As they stood over the 5 point buck, they started to discuss who’s shot had actually hit the deer.
6. As they were discussing it, a game warden happened along and asked what the problem was.
7. They told him, and he said for them to stand back and he would try to figure it out based on the bullet hole and the rifles that were being used.
8. A minute later, the game warden declared that the preacher was the one who shot the deer.
9. They all three inquired how he could have figured it out so quickly and definitively.
10. The warden said, “It was easy to determine, the bullet went in one ear and came out the other.”
B. I certainly hope that isn’t the case with my preaching…I hope it does more than go in one ear and out the other.
1. I hope that is especially true of this series on Serving Like Jesus.
a. I began this series two months ago to educate us and raise our awareness of serving in preparation for today’s ministry fair.
b. I hope all of us will stay for the fair, so that those who have been serving well, will continue to do so, and that those who need to grow in their service will be inspired to do so.
2. Before we finish the series with this last sermon, let’s review what we have learned so far.
3. In the first sermon of the series, we learned that Jesus came to serve and to give and that God wants us to become like Jesus.
a. Just like Jesus, the one who is the greatest is the one who learns to serve and to give.
4. In the second sermon, we talked about how to be selfless in a selfie world.
a. We learned that we cannot be a servant of Jesus and serve like Jesus unless we develop a selfless attitude.
b. We talked about forgetting ourselves into greatness.
5. In the third sermon we talked about how to think like a servant.
a. We learned that real servants think more about others than about themselves.
b. Real servants think like stewards, not owners.
c. Real servants think about their own responsibilities, not what other servants are doing.
d. Real servants base their identity in Christ.
e. Finally, real servants think of ministry as an opportunity, not an obligation.
6. In the next two sermons, we explored how the Beatitudes form a perfect portrait of what a servant should look like.
a. True servants are characterized by humility, and the ability to mourn.
b. True servants are meek, and have a hunger and thirst for righteousness.
c. True servants are merciful and have a pure heart.
d. True servants are peacemakers and are able to endure persecution.
7. In the next sermon, we learned about the influence of a servant.
a. The influence of a servant is found in the fact that we are salt and light for the world.
b. I shared the story of the Keeper of the Springs, and suggested that what the keeper of the springs meant to the village, Christian servants mean to our world.
8. Then, finally, in our most recent sermon from the Serving Like Jesus series, we talked about the perils of a servant.
a. We used Elisha’s servant, Gehazi, as a case study in the perils servants encounter.
b. We witnessed Gehazi facing the peril of being overprotective and possessive of the one he served, facing the peril of feeling used and unappreciated, facing the peril of experiencing hostile, undeserved disrespect and resentment, and finally facing the peril of hidden greed that prompted him to take what rewards he wanted.
C. Today, I want us to leave the dark side of serving and end on a positive note.
1. Serving definitely has rewards, and they are numerous.
2. The rewards of serving far outweigh the perils and difficulties of serving.
3. When we think about the rewards of serving, they help to motivate us to keep serving.
D. On one occasion, Peter asked Jesus an important question, “We have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us?” (Mt. 19:27).
1. We might paraphrase it like this: “We’ve given up a lot to be here. Is it really worth it?”
2. Some of us may well be wondering the same thing.
3. Perhaps we have given up a lot - careers, families, jobs, status, pride - in our spiritual journey.
4. Is it really worth it? Is there some sort of reward in store for us?
5. The good news is that our labors and sacrifices are not in vain. Our efforts will be rewarded.
E. I believe it is helpful to discuss the kind of rewards God promises for us.
1. Actually, scripture has quite a bit to say about it.
2. God knows that we wonder about the rewards and we need answers.
3. Therefore, God inspired Scripture writers to talk about rewards.
4. I am confident that when God promises a reward, we will find it extremely rewarding - far above what we could even think to ask (Ephesians 3:20).
F. Let’s begin by noting the way that Jesus answered Peter’s question: “I tell you the truth, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life” (Mt. 19:28-29).
1. The Gospel of Mark makes it clearer that Jesus is talking about two different time periods: “No one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age (homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields - and with them, persecutions) and in the age to come, eternal life” (Mark 10:29-30).
2. And so we see that Jesus wants us to know for sure that that God will reward us generously, but he also warns us that this life will not always be easy.
a. We will have persecutions, trials and sufferings in this life.
b. But the blessings outweigh the difficulties by a hundred-to-one margin!
c. Whatever sacrifices we make will be richly compensated.
d. The Christian life is certainly “worth it.”
3. The promised blessings that Jesus speaks of here should not be taken literally.
a. Certainly, Jesus isn’t promising to give 100 fields to everyone who gave up a farm to follow him.
b. He is not promising to make everyone wealthy.
c. He is not promising to give 100 mothers.
d. What he means is that the things we receive in this life, and in the next, will be 100 times as valuable as the things we give up, as measured by real value and eternal value.
4. We learn in scripture that even our trials have spiritual value for our benefit (Romans 5:3-4; Jas. 1:2-4), and this is of greater value than gold (1 Peter 1:7).
a. God sometimes gives us gold and other temporary rewards (perhaps as an indication of better things to come), but the rewards that count most are those that last forever.
5. Frankly, I doubt that the disciples understood what Jesus really meant.
a. They were still thinking in terms of a physical kingdom that would soon bring earthly freedom and power to the Israelites.
b. The martyrdom of Stephen and James (Acts 7:57-60; 12:2) may have come as quite a surprise.
c. They might have wondered, “Where were the hundredfold rewards for them?”
G. In several parables, Jesus indicated that faithful disciples would receive great rewards.
1. Sometimes the reward is described as rulership, but Jesus also used other ways to describe our reward.
2. In the parable of the vineyard workers, the gift of salvation is symbolized by one day’s wage (Matthew 20:9-16).
3. In the parable of the virgins, the reward is a marriage banquet (Matthew 25:10).
4. In the parable of talents, the reward is described in general terms: being put “in charge of many things” and being able to “share your master’s happiness” (Matthew 25:20-23).
5. In the parable of sheep and goats, the blessed disciples are allowed to inherit a kingdom (v. 34).
6. In the parable of the servants, the faithful servant is rewarded by being put in charge of all the master’s possessions (Luke 12:42-44).
7. In the parables of the pounds, the trustworthy servants were given rulership over cities (Luke 19:16-19).
H. On another occasion, Jesus advised his disciples to “store up for yourselves treasures in heaven” (Matthew 6:19-21).
1. By this, He implied that what we do in this life will be rewarded in the future, but what sort of reward is it?
2. What good is a treasure when there is nothing to buy?
3. When streets are made of gold, what will be the value of gold?
I. Another way scripture describes our reward is in the form of crowns being given to God’s servants.
1. There is the imperishable crown (1 Cor. 9:24-27), which is promised to those who victoriously run the Christian race.
2. There is the crown of joy (Phil. 4:1; 1 Thess. 2:19-20), which we might call the “soul-winners crown” because it is claimed by Paul regarding those he has led to Christ.
3. There is the crown of righteousness (2 Tim. 4:7-8), which is awarded to those who live in anticipation of the return of Christ.
4. There is the crown of life (James 1:12), which is awarded to those who have persevered under trials and have endured suffering.
5. And there is the crown of glory (1 Pet. 5:1-4), which is promised to those who faithfully shepherd God’s flock.
6. But what good are these crowns and what will we do with them in heaven?
a. Will we strut around with these crowns on our heads?
b. Will we display them in our trophy cases for all to see?
c. No, in Revelation 4:9-11, we see the heavenly worship scene and what are all of God’s servants doing before God’s throne? They are bowing in worship and are casting their crowns before the Lord in adoration and praise.
J. Think about it this way: in heaven, when we have spiritual bodies, we will not need physical things.
1. So when we think of eternal rewards, we should think primarily about spiritual rewards, not physical things that will pass away.
2. But the problem is that we do not have the vocabulary to describe details of an existence we have never experienced.
3. Therefore, God uses words based on the physical when He describes what the spiritual is like.
4. Our eternal reward will be like a treasure.
5. In some respects, it will be like inheriting a kingdom.
6. In some way, it will be like being given all our master’s possessions.
7. It will be similar to having a vineyard to take care of on behalf of the master.
8. It will be like having responsibility over cities.
9. It will be like a wedding banquet when we share in our master’s happiness.
10. It is like all of these things, and so much more.
K. Our spiritual blessings will be far better than the physical things we know in this life.
1. Our eternity in God’s presence will be much more glorious and joyful than physical rewards.
2. All physical things, no matter how beautiful, enjoyable or valuable, are only shadows of infinitely better heavenly rewards.
3. David put it this way: “You will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand” (Psalm 16:11).
4. John described it as a time when “there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain” (Revelation 20:4).
5. Everyone will be fully happy. There will be no dissatisfaction of any kind.
6. No one will be able to think of even a tiny way in which things could be better.
7. We will have reached the very purpose for which God has made us.
L. Isaiah described some of this joy when he predicted the nation returning to its land: “The ransomed of the Lord will return. They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away” (Isaiah 35:10).
1. We will be in the presence of God, and we will be happier than we have ever been.
2. This is what Christianity has traditionally tried to convey by the concept of “going to heaven.”
3. Some critics of Christianity have ridiculed the concept of heaven as “pie in the sky in the bye and bye.”
4. But the real question is: Is there a reward, or not?
5. And if there really is a reward in heaven, then it is not ridiculous to hope to enjoy it.
6. And if we really will be rewarded, it is ridiculous not to want it.
M. The simple fact is that God has promised to reward us.
1. “Anyone who comes to him [God] must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him” (Hebrews 11:6).
2. Belief in rewards is part of the Christian faith.
3. Nevertheless, some people think that it is somehow demeaning or less than honorable for Christians to want to be rewarded for their labors.
4. They think that Christians should serve with a motive of love, expecting no reward for their labors.
5. But those critics fail to grasp the complete message of the Bible.
6. In addition to the free gift of salvation by grace through faith, the Bible does promise rewards for God’s people, and it is not wrong to desire the promises of God.
O. Certainly, we should serve God from a motivation of love and not as hirelings who work only to be paid.
1. However, Scripture does speak of rewards, and assures us that we will be rewarded.
2. It is honorable for us to believe in God’s promises and to find them motivating.
3. Rewards are not the only motivation for the redeemed children of God, but it is part of the package God has given us.
P. When life becomes difficult, it is helpful for us to remember that there is another life, in which we will be rewarded.
1. “If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men” (1 Cor. 15:19).
2. Paul knew that the future life would make his sacrifices worthwhile.
3. He gave up temporary pleasures to seek better, longer-lasting pleasures in Christ (Phil. 3:8).
4. Paul used the language of “gain” - “to live is Christ, to die is gain” (Phil. 1:21).
5. He knew that his future life would be much better than the persecutions of this life.
6. Jesus was also mindful of the benefits of his own sacrifice, and He was willing to endure the cross because he saw great joy on the other side (Hebrews 12:2).
Q. Therefore, when Jesus counseled us to lay up for ourselves treasures in heaven (Mt. 6:19-20), He was not against investing in the future, rather He was against making bad investments.
1. We should not invest in temporary rewards, but invest in heavenly rewards that will last forever.
2. Jesus said, “Great is your reward in heaven” (Matthew 5:12).
3. God has prepared something wonderfully good for us, and we will find it to be extremely satisfying.
4. Paul wrote, “The Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does” (Ephesians 6:8).
5. “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward” (Colossians 3:23-24).
6. John wrote, “Watch out that you do not lose what you have worked for, but that you may be rewarded fully” (2 John 8).
R. What God has in store for us is truly beyond our ability to imagine.
1. Even in this life, the love of God is beyond our ability to understand (Ephesians 3:19).
2. The peace of God is beyond our comprehension (Philippians 4:7), and His joy is beyond our ability to put into words (“inexpressible and glorious joy” 1 Peter 1:8).
3. How much more, then, is it impossible to describe how good it will be to live with God forever and experience our heavenly rewards?
4. But one thing we know for certain - it is going to be the most wonderful experience we have ever had.
5. It is better than the most beautiful paintings, better than the most delicious food, better than the most exciting sport, better than the best feelings and experiences we have ever had.
6. It is better than anything on earth. It is going to be a tremendous reward!
S. I want to end with the story of John Todd.
1. John was born in Rutland, Vermont in the autumn of 1800.
a. When John was six years old, both his parents died.
b. He and his siblings had to be parceled out among relatives.
2. A kind-hearted aunt who lived 10 miles away agreed to give John a home; to love him and to care for him.
a. John lived with his aunt for some 15 years and finally left as he went on to school to study ministry.
3. Time passed gently along as John began and later excelled in his ministry.
a. Years passed and his elderly aunt fell desperately ill.
b. Realizing that death was not far off, and in great distress, she wrote to her nephew.
c. The pitiful letter included some of the same questions all of us must one day ask: “What will death be like? Will it mean the end of everything?”
d. Fear and uncertainty were easily traced in the quivering lines of her letter.
4. Moved with compassion and swamped with the memories of yesteryear, John wrote his aunt these words of reassurance:
It is now thirty-five years since I, as a boy of six, was left quite alone in the world. You sent me word you would give me a home and be a kind mother to me. I have never forgotten the day I made the long journey to your house. I can still recall my disappointment when, instead of coming for me yourself, you sent your servant, Caesar, to fetch me.
I remember my tears and anxiety as, perched high on your horse and clinging tight to Caesar, I rode off to my new home. Night fell before we finished the journey, and I became lonely and afraid. “Do you think she’ll go to bed before we get there?” I asked Caesar. “Oh no!” he said reassuringly, “She’ll stay up for you. When we get out o’ these here woods, you’ll see her candle shinin’ in the window.”
Presently we did ride out into the clearing, and there, sure enough, was your candle. I remember you were waiting at the door, that you put your arms close about me—a tired and bewildered little boy. You had a fire burning on the hearth, a hot supper waiting on the stove. After supper you took me to my new room, heard me say my prayers, and then sat beside me till I fell asleep.
You probably realize why I am recalling all this to your memory. Some day soon God will send for you, to take you to a new home. Don’t fear the summons, the strange journey, or the messenger of death. God can be trusted to do as much for you as you were kind enough to do for me so many years ago. At the end of the road you will find love and a welcome waiting, and you will be safe in God’s care. I shall watch you and pray for you until you are out of sight, and then wait for the day when I shall make the journey myself and find you waiting at the end of the road to greet me.
T. Not only is this a beautiful and true story, it is the hope of all who serve God.
1. It is the way it will be.
2. It is the “Well done, good and faithful servant” that we will hear.
3. As the letter indicates, we are expected in heaven.
4. Our God is waiting to welcome us.
5. Jesus has promised that we will be rewarded, and we can be sure He will keep His promises.
6. There are great rewards awaiting all servants of God, so let’s not grow weary and give up, but let us keep on faithfully serving like Jesus to the end – it will be worth it!
Resources:
Article “The Rewards of Following Christ.” By Joseph Tkach. www.gci.org/prophesy/rewards.
Improving Your Serve, Charles Swindoll, Word, Inc., 1981, Chapter 13.
