Service = Reward!

YOUR SERVICE WILL DETERMINE YOU BLESSING

GENESIS 24: 39-52 (NLT)

39" `But suppose I can’t find a young woman willing to come back with me?’ I asked him. 40`You will,’ he told me, `for the LORD, in whose presence I have walked, will send his angel with you and will make your mission successful. Yes, you must get a wife for my son from among my relatives, from my father’s family. 41But if you go to my relatives and they refuse to let her come, you will be free from your oath.’

42"So this afternoon when I came to the spring I prayed this prayer: `O LORD, the God of my master, Abraham, if you are planning to make my mission a success, please guide me in a special way. 43Here I am, standing beside this spring. I will say to some young woman who comes to draw water, "Please give me a drink of water!" 44And she will reply, "Certainly! And I’ll water your camels, too!" LORD, let her be the one you have selected to be the wife of my master’s son.’

45"Before I had finished praying these words, I saw Rebekah coming along with her water jug on her shoulder. She went down to the spring and drew water and filled the jug. So I said to her, `Please give me a drink.’ 46She quickly lowered the jug from her shoulder so I could drink, and she said, `Certainly, sir, and I will water your camels, too!’ And she did. 47When I asked her whose daughter she was, she told me, `My father is Bethuel, the son of Nahor and his wife, Milcah.’ So I gave her the ring and the bracelets.

48"Then I bowed my head and worshiped the LORD. I praised the LORD, the God of my master, Abraham, because he had led me along the right path to find a wife from the family of my master’s relatives. 49So tell me--will you or won’t you show true kindness to my master? When you tell me, then I’ll know what my next step should be, whether to move this way or that."

50Then Laban and Bethuel replied, "The LORD has obviously brought you here, so what can we say? 51Here is Rebekah; take her and go. Yes, let her be the wife of your master’s son, as the LORD has directed."

52At this reply, Abraham’s servant bowed to the ground and worshiped the LORD. 53Then he brought out silver and gold jewelry and lovely clothing for Rebekah. He also gave valuable presents to her mother and brother.

WE SEE HERE THAT REBEKAH’S SERVICE DETERMINED HER REWARD! AND HER FAMILY KNEW IT AS THEY GAVE HER A DEPARTING BLESSING:

Genesis 24:60They blessed her with this blessing as she parted:

"Our sister, may you become

the mother of many millions!

May your descendants overcome

all their enemies."

This is a principle found throughout the Scriptures:

#1 INSANE SERVICE = INSANE REWARDS

Genesis 6: 14 So make yourself an ark of cypress [3] wood; make rooms in it and coat it with pitch inside and out. 15 This is how you are to build it: The ark is to be 450 feet long, 75 feet wide and 45 feet high.

You ask what kind of freak living in the middle of a desert land listens to this kind of advice?

#2 FEARLESS SERVICE = FORTUITUS REWARD (FORTUNATE, GREAT)

Daniel 6: 21 Daniel answered, "O king, live forever! 22 My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in his sight. Nor have I ever done any wrong before you, O king

His fortuitous reward….

Daniel 12: 13 "As for you, go your way till the end. You will rest, and then at the end of the days you will rise to receive your allotted inheritance."

Daniel was given the vision of future kings and kingdoms involving the known world, and the unknown world then, the end times and their dramatic climax. He was blessed for his fearlessness

#4 HUMBLE SERVICE = HEFTY REWARD

Jude 1

1Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and a brother of James,

To those who have been called, who are loved by God the Father and kept by[1] Jesus Christ:

2Mercy, peace and love be yours in abundance.

Jude and James the half brothers of Jesus Christ, Don’t point that fact out!

They knew it was humility in understanding, wisdom in applying service to the spiritual family of God, not relying on biological ties.

JC makes us ALL FAMILY

#3 GENEROUS SERVICE = GRACEFUL REWARD

@ Simon the Pharisee’s house (if this man were a prophet…touching Him..)

Luke 7: 43Simon replied, "I suppose the one who had the bigger debt canceled."