“Our Rewarding God”
Introduction
Everyone appreciates acknowledgement of effort and achievement. We learn about reward and punishment from the time we are little. Good behavior reaps reinforcing reward. Bad behavior provokes corrective discipline. The concept of reward is thoroughly Biblical. Paul urged slaves to faithfully serve their masters by promising eternal reward.
With good will render service, as to the Lord, and not to men, KNOWING that whatever good thing each one does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether slave or free. Ephesians 6:7-8
Reward, as understood in the Bible, deals with acknowledgment of behavior. It can be understood in both a negative and positive sense. God’s justice appropriately rewards all those who do evil. We often say, “He will get his just reward.” It also conveys our Heavenly Father’s loving response to His children for their faithful service. We must not confuse earned reward with unearned blessing.
Just as in any family, there are earned privileges and unearned privileges.
Unearned privileges by reason of relationship
• God drew us to Himself and determined to bless us even before we were His children.
• At birth, He gave us a new name
• We became sons of the living God
• We become partakers of the divine nature through the indwelling Holy Spirit
• He promised daily provision
• He promises a secure eternal inheritance.
• He demonstrates His abundant love and care
• He continually trains us and disciplines us
• He gifts us, recognizes us and blesses us just because.
Earned Privileges by reason of responsible faith inspired behavior.
• Blessing for faithfully completing chores
• Praise for a job well done
• Awards and recognition for outstanding achievement
• Recognition and reinforcement for good behavior
• Increased responsibility and opportunity to serve the Lord
Some feel that reward should not be the basis for serving God. We should not serve God just for what we can receive from Him. We should be and do good for goodness sake, because it is the right thing to do. We should serve God for God’s sake. That is a noble sentiment but falls short of the Bible.
The Bible promises reward as a valid Biblical motivation for responsible behavior. Our Father in heaven would not have offered reward and called us to trust a God who REWARDS if it did not play some part in our motivation. A problem arises when we demand immediate reward for our service to God. Or when we only focus on the reward and not the intimacy of the relationship. Something built into our nature strives to achieve.
Communism fundamentally fails because it fails to reward incentive, hard work, achievement or extraordinary effort. If everyone receives the same reward no matter the level of work or energy, people only aspire to the minimal amount of work expected. It contradicts the Biblical principle of faithfulness, diligence, endurance, perseverance, growth. Our Heavenly Father offers reward based on faithful service.
I. The principle of reward
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 seek Him. Hebrews 11:6
The central element in pleasing God is faith, trust, belief in God. Only a life lived based on faith pleases God.
Two foundational trust points are necessary to please God.
? Believe that He IS! Believe that He exists.
? Believe that He rewards those who seek Him.
“reward” means to remunerate, compensate, pay, reimburse. We must embrace God as a rewarder. Who does the Father reward? Who does the Father compensate? Those who “seek” Him!
The word “seek” is a powerful word.
Describes the intensity of Herod’s desperate “search” to find the baby Jesus.
Describes the priority “search” for the kingdom of God and His righteousness.
Describes the intense search of a cast out demon’s to find a new home.
Describes the merchants intense search for fine pearls.
Describes the shepherd’s desperate search for the lost lamb.
Describes Mary and Joseph’s frantic search for their missing young son.
Describes the people’s passionate search for Jesus to heal their diseases
You get the idea. True faith believes that our heavenly Father favorably responds to those who seek Him.
Strange this would appear in a chapter that describes those who passionately sought God and His favor but never fully received the promise, the reward they sought. It mentions Moses who passed up the treasures promised as a son of the Pharaoh resulting in intense suffering with the Hebrew nation.
What would motivate such a sacrifice?
He considered the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he was looking to the reward. Hebrews 11:24-26
What treasures of Egypt did Moses chose to forfeit? What future reward motivated Him to choose pain over temporary pleasure. Abraham looked for a city greater than Israel whose architect was God. Heb 11:8-10
Peter described those who believed in Christ never having physically seen Him.
though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls. 1 Peter 1:8-9
Our God rewards faith.
Our Father longs to reward our faithful service and desire to know Him.
Do not fret because of evildoers, Be not envious toward wrongdoers.
For they will wither quickly like the grass and fade like the green herb.
Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness.
Delight yourself in the LORD; and He will give you the desires of your heart.
Commit your way to the LORD, trust also in Him, and He will do it.
He will bring forth your righteousness as the light and your judgment as the noonday.
Rest in the LORD and wait patiently for Him; do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who carries out wicked schemes. Psalms 37:1-7
Behold, the Lord GOD will come with might, with His arm ruling for Him.
Behold, His reward is with Him and His recompense before Him. Isaiah 40:10
"Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to what he has done. Rev. 22:12
"Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has chosen gladly to give you the kingdom. Luke 12:32
God showers every one of His children with numerous blessings apart from any merit on our part. He loves to give good gifts to His children. These are gifts without merit. These are “because I love you” gifts. He also rewards faithful service and pursuit of Him. God grants some rewards in the present. Other rewards await a future presentation.
II. The Types of Rewards
The intensity of our service often follows the perceived value of the reward. Is it worth it?
He rewards with public recognition; crowns
He rewards with increased responsibility; rule
He rewards with spiritual and material riches; houses, wealth, honor, life
? An imperishable crown of righteousness, glory, life, exaltation
? Eternal weight of glory
? Increased responsibility
? Praise and affirmation from the father
? Increased riches and honor
? True and great reward
? Good returned for good rendered
? Prophets reward for serving a prophet
? Better and lasting possession
? Shining glory
? Greater inheritance (everything that belongs to God and Jesus)
? Incorruptible treasure in heaven
? Upward call of God
? Deeper insight into God’s presence
? Increased joy
III. The rewarded Behavior. What does God reward?
A. Labor and sacrificial service
"May the LORD reward your work, and your wages be full from the LORD, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to seek refuge." Ruth 2:12
Now he who plants and he who waters are one; but each will receive his own reward according to his own labor. 1 Cor. 3:8
And lovingkindness is Yours, O Lord, For You recompense a man according to his work. Psa 62:12
And He said to them, "Truly I say to you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, who will not receive many times as much at this time and in the age to come, eternal life." Luke 18:29-30
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing. 2 Tim. 4:7-8
According to the grace of God which was given to me, like a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building on it. But each man must be careful how he builds on it. For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each man's work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man's work. If any man's work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward.
With good will render service, as to the Lord, and not to men, knowing that whatever good thing each one does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether slave or free. Ephes. 6:5-8
Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air; but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified. 1 Cor. 9:24-27
B. Deeds of kindness and righteousness
"For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because of your name as followers of Christ, truly I say to you, he will not lose his reward. Mark 9:41
"But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men. Luke 6:35
But remember the former days, when, after being enlightened, you endured a great conflict of sufferings, partly by being made a public spectacle through reproaches and tribulations, and partly by becoming sharers with those who were so treated. For you showed sympathy to the prisoners and accepted joyfully the seizure of your property, knowing that you have for yourselves a better possession and a lasting one. Therefore, do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised. Hebrews 10:32-36
Motives factor into rewards.
wait until the Lord comes who will both bring to light the things hidden in the darkness and disclose the motives of men's hearts; and THEN each man's praise (reward, recognition) will come to him from God. 1 Cor. 4:5
C. Obedience
Moreover, by them (The scriptures) Your servant is warned; in keeping them there is great reward. Psa 19:11
I
f anyone competes as an athlete, he does not win the prize unless he competes according to the rules.
2 Timothy 2:3-7
D. Humility and fear of the Lord.
The reward of humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, honor and life. Prov 22:4
E. Endurance
Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary. Gal 6:9
"Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. "Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; Matt 5:11-12
Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. James 1:12
F. Leading others to the truth
For who is our hope or joy or crown of exultation? Is it not even you, in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming? 1 Thes. 2:19
The next 4 come from Matthew 5
G. Quiet deeds
H. Secret giving
I. Private prayer
J. Unnoticed fasting
K. Faithful investment of God-given resources
Jesus said to him, "If you wish to be complete, go and sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me." Matthew 19:21
But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matt 6:20-21
Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure—pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return. Luke 6:38
Also see Malachi 3:10-12
"His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.' Matthew 25:21
IV. The possible loss of reward
If any man's work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire. 1 Corinthians 3:10-15
For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? "If you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? "Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. And whoever in the name of a disciple gives to one of these little ones even a cup of cold water to drink, truly I say to you, he shall not lose his reward." Matthew 10:41-42
Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven. Matthew 5:44-6:6
Watch yourselves, that you do not lose what we have accomplished, but that you may receive a full reward. 2 John 1:8
I am coming quickly; hold fast what you have, so that no one will take your crown. Rev. 3:11
V. The Application of the principle of reward
A. Remember! Our Dad doesn’t miss a thing!
For God is not unjust so as to forget your work and the love which you have shown toward His name, in having ministered and in still ministering to the saints. Hebrews 6:10
The promise of reward is a proper motivation for faithful service. Our Dad promises reward, so serve faithfully.
Serve faithfully and He will reward abundantly.
Work hard
Serve faithfully
Engage in deeds of kindness.
Pray privately
Give secretly
Fast without fanfare
Obey
Endure
Lead others to Christ
Give generously
B. Remember! The best rewards come later.
Serve patiently and expectantly and confidently for God to keep His promise.
He will reward eventually.
In due time we will reap if we faint not. Gal 6
C. Remember! God doesn’t always reward the way we expect.
Serve faithfully for He will reward perfectly.
I asked God for strength that I might achieve.
I became weak that I might learn to humbly obey.
I asked God for health that I might do greater things.
I experienced infirmity that I might do better things.
I asked for riches that I might be happy.
I became poor that I might become holy.
I asked for power that I might have the praise of men.
I was given weakness that I might feel the need of God.
I asked for all things that I might enjoy life.
I was given life that I might enjoy all things.
I got nothing I asked for – but everything I hoped for.
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