FAITHFULNESS THAT BRINGS GREAT REWARD
Please open your Bible to Matthew 25 and Luke 16 as we continue our series on eternal rewards with today’s message, “Faithfulness that Brings Great Reward.”
This is the first of two sermons on faithfulness. In today’s message I want you to see the eternal importance of being faithful. Your faithfulness will have a huge impact on eternity. Next week, I will show you just how great and awesome the rewards are, for those who are faithful to Jesus Christ.
In this series, I have shown you how our good works, how having the right motive, and using our God given opportunities will greatly impact eternity and reap great eternal rewards. Today we turn our attention to another vital key that brings great rewards and that is our faithfulness.
Matthew 25:21 His lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things… NKJV
Luke 16:10 He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much. NKJV
FAITHFULNESS TO CHRIST
In my search for the meaning of faithfulness, I have found four powerful truths, about how our commitment of faithfulness to Jesus Christ will deeply affect us in eternity.
The first and most important truth is to whom we are to be faithful.
Revelation 14:12 This calls for patient endurance on the part of the saints who obey God's commandments and remain faithful to Jesus. NIV
Faithful to who? Jesus. Not the world; not a denomination, not a political leader, but to Jesus Christ, and only Jesus Christ who alone deserves our total commitment of faithfulness. Your faithfulness to Jesus Christ is so valuable to Him, that He has reserved special rewards for those who are faithful to Him.
Second, what does it mean to be faithful? Revelation 14:12 This calls for patient endurance on the part of the saints who obey God's commandments and remain faithful to Jesus. NIV
The Biblical meaning of faithfulness is a single-minded commitment to Jesus Christ.
Faithfulness is the willingness to obey God’s commands because we believe by faith that God knows exactly what He is doing, regardless of the circumstances. It is this kind of faithfulness to God that is so desperately lacking in the church of America.
Many are faithful to themselves and to their opinions and ideas no matter how bad they are. They are faithful to false truths that reject Jesus Christ as Savior and King. Many are faithful to political leaders and believe that politics can save us. However, the Bible says that our faithfulness is to Jesus Christ and only Jesus Christ. The church in America has forgotten this great truth that our faithfulness belongs only to Jesus Christ, and no other.
Third, and this is very important; how long are we to remain faithful?
When the world turns against us, and heaven is silent, do we stop being faithful? When trials and sorrows overwhelm us, do we stop being faithful? When society is overrun with corruption, violence and evil, and ungodliness, are we to stop being faithful?
How long must we remain faithful in a world ripe for judgment? How long…
Again, Revelation 14:12 says we are to remain faithful to Jesus.
Jesus also said in Revelation 2:10 we are to …Be faithful until death… NKJV
How long are we to be faithful? We are to remain faithful to Jesus Christ until death…
God says we are to preserve, and remain faithful to the very end.
We are to never quit, or give up. We are to finish the race God has set before us.
Some say I prayed for God to heal or to answer some great need and He didn’t do it, so why should I continue to trust God? I am not wise enough to give you an answer, but God says no matter what, be faithful. Be faithful…
Just before He was crucified upside down, in his last words, Peter encouraged the believers to remain diligent and steadfast to grow in the Lord. In other words, be faithful to the end.
Faithfulness obeys. Faithfulness endures. Faithfulness believes and Faithfulness overcomes. And faithfulness remains faithful to the Lord until He calls us home.
Fourth, Jesus promises great rewards for those who are faithful.
In speaking to the faithful, Jesus said… Matthew 25:21 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things… NKJV
This powerful promise reveals that our faithfulness to Christ is worth our every effort to serve Him and obey Him. When you consider that Jesus owns all that is in heaven and all that is on the earth, this is a thrilling promise. And not only that, He can make these amazing promises of great rewards because He is an awesome God who does not lie.
THE TEST OF FAITHFULNESS
That brings us to a very vital point about the value of our faithfulness. Remember that all of us will stand before Jesus at His judgment seat where He will examine our lives. It is here that He will discover the true sincerity of our faithfulness to Him. He will test you to determine if the level of faithfulness to Him is great enough that He can bestow upon you, greater things in His kingdom. That’s why Jesus said…
Luke 16:10 He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much. NKJV
Your faithfulness to Jesus is one of the most important keys to great eternal rewards. Right now, you are either proving or not proving to Jesus that you can be trusted with eternal treasures and responsibilities. If we are unfaithful to Him in the little things on this earth, how can He possibility trust us with the wealth of eternal treasures and responsibilities? That’s why right now is the only time you have to prove the value of your faithfulness.
Kent Crockett tells the story of a young boy who was hired at a local store. On his very first day, the storeowner, Mr. Peters, instructed his new worker to go up into the attic.
He said, “You will find a long, deep box and I want you to sort through the contents and see what should be saved.” About 15 minutes later, the boy came down from the attic, complaining that it was too hot and he was bored looking at old junk. Mr. Peters said ok and paid the boy for his 15 minutes of boring work and put the help wanted sign back up in his store window. The next day a young boy named Crawford Hill was hired for the job.
Just as he did the day before, Mr. Peters sent his new helper to the attic, to again, sort out the contents of the long, deep box. Crawford spent hours in the hot attic sorting through the box, separating nails and screws from things that were broken and useless.
Finally, when he reached the bottom of the box, he saw a twenty-dollar bill lying on the bottom. He grabbed the bill and immediately raced down the stairs to show Mr. Peters. “Look, Mr. Peters! I found a twenty-dollar bill in the box!” Then he handed the money to his boss. Mr. Peters knew then this boy could be trusted with the greater responsibility of working in his store.
Mr. Peters planted the money in the box to test the boy’s honesty. What the boy didn’t realize was that this useless work in a hot attic was being used by his boss to see if the boy was worthy of greater responsibility. The old box was just a test of the boy’s faithfulness to see if would complete the job and keep a good attitude, even if he didn’t understand why he was doing what seemed to be useless work.
That is exactly what God is doing in our lives. Your whole life is a test. He is testing you with earthly responsibilities to see if you are faithful to Him, including the small things.
Every day of your life is a test of your faithfulness, and an opportunity for you to demonstrate to the Lord that you are a responsible servant that can be trusted with greater responsibilities in His kingdom.
If we prove we are faithful here, then He will reward us with greater responsibilities there.
To be given greater responsibilities in heaven is a vital part of the great rewards that will
be given by Jesus Christ to those who have proven themselves faithful and loyal to Him.
Jesus says if you are unfaithful here, then you cannot be trusted with the great things of eternity there. Faithfulness to Jesus Christ is worth your every effort in all that you do.
REWARDS FOR FAITHFULNESS
I believe the rewards for faithfulness are among some of the greatest rewards of heaven. And of these great rewards, there are two that I think are especially relevant for today.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
One of the most important ways Jesus will test the strength of our faithfulness is by our commitment to acknowledge Him.
Matthew 10:32 "Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. 33 But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven. NIV
There are two important things here we need to see.
First, Jesus said those who faithfully acknowledge Him will be greatly honored, and rewarded by Jesus Christ Himself.
Think of the moment when Jesus Christ, the eternal Lord of heaven singles you out and honors you before God and the all the glorious host of heaven. Think of the moment when He says to you with words of joy, because you honored Me before men, I will now honor you with rewards and privileges beyond your imagination.
Picture in your mind, as He announces to all the host of heaven, that you were one of His
faithful servants who endured trials and temptations, and sufferings and you did not deny
His name, as your Savior and Lord. See Him as He looks at you with eyes full of great joy and says to you, enter into the joys of My eternal kingdom, My good and faithful servant. Since you were faithful in a few things, I will now put you in charge over many things.
Glory to God, what a moment that will be. In eternity, we will see that to give up the sins and cares of this world, and acknowledge Jesus Christ was worth it all.
Second, what does it mean to faithfully acknowledge Jesus Christ?
In the original Greek, the word, “acknowledge,” means to continuously acknowledge Him on a daily basis in all that you do. The words you speak, and the life you live are a testimony to the world that you either believe, or disbelieve in Jesus Christ.
To acknowledge Jesus Christ is to proudly admit to the world that you believe with all of your heart, He is the Son of God and the only way of salvation.
When you acknowledge Christ before the world of men, you are stating that you value your relationship with Jesus Christ above all the pleasures and treasures of this world. Again, this is why you must have an eternal perspective. You must see beyond the limits of this world and see the great promises Jesus gives to those who are faithful to His Name.
The question is, are you faithful? You will be tested in this. When you claim to be a follower of Jesus Christ, you will be tested by the world, the flesh, and the devil.
Jesus said when you choose Him, the world will hate you; despise you, ridicule you, mock
you, curse you, and persecute you. Why, because the world loves sin, and darkness and it hates anyone who stands for truth and righteousness.
There will be a price to pay when you choose to acknowledge your faith in Jesus Christ. But Jesus says, if you remain faithful and acknowledge Him, He will personally honor you before God and all the host of heaven because you were not ashamed to bear the name of Christ. Know this…
The Bible says our trials here on earth are only for a moment, and they are nothing compared of being honored by Jesus Christ with great rewards that will last for all eternity.
PERSECUTION
Another very important point of faithfulness that promises great eternal rewards is our faithfulness to Christ during times of persecution and suffering.
Matthew 5:10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 "Blessed are you (when) people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your
reward in heaven…NIV
Notice two contradicting words: Blessings and persecution.
Jesus says, Blessed are those who are persecuted… rejoice and be glad…
One of the greatest rewards in heaven is reserved for those who faithfully endure suffering and persecution for the name of Jesus Christ. He says rejoice when you suffer for the sake of His name, because the reward for those who are persecuted is so great that it is impossible to imagine. When you feel the heat of persecution, remember Jesus words…
Luke 6:23 "Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven.
Peter also wrote…
1 Peter 4:15 If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. 16 However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name. NIV
When you choose to be faithful to God in in a society that hates God and honors sin and evil; when you choose to acknowledge Jesus Christ and obey Him when society says there is no God, you will face ridicule and persecution. But Jesus says if you remain faithful to Him, even though you are persecuted and perhaps killed for it, you will be greatly rewarded in heaven. Again, this is a promise from Jesus Christ who cannot lie.
IN CLOSING…
It is God’s desire that you be faithful.
It is God’s desire that you faithfully endure and honor His name.
Every person in this room can receive the great reward of faithfulness but you must choose to be faithful and remain faithful.
God is looking for those who are faithful not just in the big things that everyone sees, but in all things, including the little things, when no one is watching.
Again, I read to you these words…
Matthew 25:21 His lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.'
At this very moment, Jesus Christ is personally calling you to a life of faithfulness that will reap great rewards that will last for all eternity.
That is my prayer and hope for you…
