This is from a document that I started almost 8 years ago. As you can see, I haven't quite finished it.
Sorry the formatting is a little screwy for now and some of this appears as block caps... not by intent.
Use it for whatever it's worth and let me know if it blesses you. I might be inspired to turn it into a book!
1.1
Introduction
– You Mean There Are Rewards?
Genesis 15: 1 After these things the
word of the Lord came to Abram in
a vision, saying, “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your
exceedingly great reward.” (NKJV)
John 17:3 And this is eternal life, that they may know
You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. (NKJV)
John 3:16 – not perish but might have everlasting life. What is this everlasting life? Why is it better than living
forever? What are the perks in
this life?
The goal of salvation is not to escape hell. It is to have this eternal life, intimacy with God. This is the reward.
As a Christian, do you ever ponder what it will be like in Heaven? Do you ever think that it might not be
the same for everyone, that the precious eternity in Heaven might be different
experiences from person to person?
Well, if you believe this to be true, would it not then be logical to
try to find out what would make a difference, given that life is so short and
eternity forever?
How then would we make sure that we make the most of this life? One part of this I would submit for
your consideration is the topic of Rewards.
I have broached this topic with quite a few Christians who will chastise
me for thinking about this topic.
“We don’t work that way, as Christians we do the Lord’s will and obey
His commands because we love Him”.
It often comes across somehow as demeaning or less than honorable for
Christians to want to be rewarded for their labors. However, as I read scriptures, I cannot but come across
many, many verses which speak on this topic of Rewards. Beyond making it into Heaven, the word
“reward” appears too many times in the Bible for us to ignore.
I am sure you love the Lord and His Word to be reading this
article. Anything that is
mentioned in the Word enough times is something we ignore at our own loss,
bearing in mind that these affect eternal things. That is why I believe this topic is one that warrants us
having a close look at, hence this study.
Personally, this study was instrumental in spurring me even more into
the things of the eternal. My hope
is that it does the same and more for you, that you start to enjoy an ever
increasing revelation of God’s love for you, that like Paul, you press on, to “lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus
has also laid hold of” (from Phillipians 3:12) for you.
I will submit to
you humbly that I do not know everything about rewards. I’ll contend that I have not even put
my foot in the door of this understanding. I have simply classified and added a few short comments here
and there, using my God-given
skill of weaving scriptures together to form a picture.
1.2
There IS A
Reward to Be Had
1.2.1
Jesus
Spoke Much About Rewards
In the Gospels and in the Book of
Revelation, we see Jesus speaking about rewards many times. It is very clear that a lot of what we
do here as His disciples is tied to rewards. We simply cannot ignore what the Lord himself had said.
Consider the following verses, which we
will discuss further in the article:
Matthew 5: 46 For if you love
those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the
same?(NKJV)
Matthew 6: 4 that your charitable deed may be in secret; and
your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly. (NKJV)
Matthew 6:6 But you, when you pray, go into your room, and
when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place;
and your Father who sees in secret will
reward you openly. (NKJV)
Matthew 6: 19 “Do not lay
up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where
thieves break in and steal; 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where
thieves do not break in and steal.
(NKJV)
Matthew
10:41 He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a
prophet’s reward. And
he who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a
righteous man’s reward. 42 And whoever gives one
of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple,
assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward.” (NKJV)
Matthew
16: 27 For the Son of Man
will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works.
(NKJV)
Matthew 19:29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or
sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My name’s sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and
inherit eternal life. (NKJV)
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.’ (NKJV)
Matthew 25:23 His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good
and faithful servant; you have been
faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into
the joy of your lord.’ (NKJV)
Mark
9:41 For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink
in My name, because you belong to Christ, assuredly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward.
(NKJV)
Luke
6: 23 Rejoice in that day and leap for joy! For indeed your reward is
great in heaven, For in like manner their
fathers did to the prophets. (NKJV)
Luke
6:35 But love your enemies, do good, and lend,
hoping for nothing in return; and your
reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind
to the unthankful and evil. (NKJV)
Luke 12:33 Sell what you have and give alms; provide yourselves money bags which do not
grow old, a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief
approaches nor moth destroys. (NKJV)
Luke 19:17 And he said to him, ‘Well done, good
servant; because you were faithful
in a very little, have authority over ten cities.’ 18
And the second came,
saying, ‘Master, your mina has earned five minas.’ 19
Likewise he said to
him, ‘You also be over five cities.’
(NKJV)
Revelation 2:10 Do not fear any of those things which you are
about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into
prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be
faithful until death, and I will give
you the crown of life. (NKJV)
Revelation 3:11 Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you
have, that no one may take your crown. (NKJV)
Revelation
22: 12 “And behold, I am
coming quickly, and My reward is
with Me, to give to every one according to his work.
(NKJV)
1.2.2
Other
Verses Teeling Us About Rewards
Apart from what we
have just seen above, the Bible goes further to mention that there IS a reward
for each of us. Consider the
following verses:
2 Corinthians 5:10 For we must all appear
before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done
in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. (NKJV)
James 1: 12 Blessed is the
man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to
those who love Him. (NKJV)
1 Peter 5:4 and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory
that does not fade away. (NKJV)
Revelation 11:18 The nations were angry,
and Your wrath has come, And the time of the dead, that they should be judged, And that You should reward Your servants
the prophets and the saints, And those who fear Your name, small and great,
And should destroy those who destroy the earth.” (NKJV)
1.3
Things the
Bible Says About Rewards
1.3.1 Our Reward is
According to Our Works
It is important to
note that we are rewarded
according to our works. We do not receive salvation from
works. This has often been
confused by some who think that the reward is salvation, everlasting life. If this was the case, then Christ died
for nothing and we are saved by our works. Salvation is a gift.
Rewards are for the works of the believers.
It is interesting to me that the famous verse 26 is actually the context
of rewards also, for in the next verse, we see Jesus mentioning that the Father
would reward each according to his own works!
Matthew 16: 24 Then
Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come
after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. 25 For whoever desires
to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find
it. 26 For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses
his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? 27 For the Son of
Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works. (NKJV)
This is said again
here:
Revelation 22: 12 “And behold, I
am coming quickly, and My reward is
with Me, to give to every one according to his work. (NKJV)
Paul says a very
similar thing in this verse below:
2 Corinthians 5:10 For we must all appear
before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done
in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. (NKJV)
1.3.2
The Reward is Big Compared to
Our Work
We will never be shortchanged.
According to scriptures, what we stand to receive summarily outstrips
whatever effort we put in. The rewards seem disproportionately larger than the works done. Consider the following:
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.’ (NKJV)
Matthew 25:23 His lord said to
him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over
many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’
(NKJV)
The “few things” were counted in talents. A talent is thought to be about a workman’s wages for a
month. I don’t think Jesus was so
much interested in the actual amount as He was in the proportions. See again in Luke:
Luke 19:17 And he said to him, ‘Well done,
good servant; because you were faithful in a very little, have authority over
ten cities.’ 18 And the second came, saying, ‘Master, your mina has earned five minas.’ 19 Likewise he said to
him, ‘You also be over five cities.’ (NKJV)
1.3.3
Knowing
About the Reward Brings Rejoicing, Hope
If we don’t know, fail
to see or give little regard to what is taught in the Bible about rewards, we
will miss a great source of motivation.
We see here how Jesus encouraged His disciples by telling them about the
reward they would receive when persecuted for His sake. The “that day” in verse 23 is talking
about the day of persecution.
Luke 6: 20 Then He lifted up His
eyes toward His disciples, and said: “Blessed are
you poor, For yours is the kingdom of God. 21 Blessed are you
who hunger now, For you shall be filled. Blessed are you
who weep now, For you shall laugh. 22 Blessed are you when
men hate you, And when they exclude you, And revile you, and cast out your name as evil,
For the Son of Man’s sake. 23 Rejoice in that day and leap for joy! For indeed your reward is
great in heaven, For in like manner their
fathers did to the prophets. (NKJV)
Paul talks about how the Colossian church had faith in Jesus and loved
all the saints because they saw the hope laid up for them in Heaven. It can be argued that this hope was a
general hope, not specific to rewards, but I choose to think they heard more in
the word of the truth of the gospel.
We ourselves should look forward eagerly to our rewards, that we might
similarly have faith in Our Lord and love for the saints.
Colossians 1: 3 We
give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for
you, 4 since
we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of your love for all the saints; 5 because
of the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, of
which you heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel,
(NKJV)
Jesus himself did what
He did for the joy set before Him:
Hebrews 12: 1 Therefore we also, since
we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every
weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with
endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our
faith, who for the joy that was set
before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the
right hand of the throne of God. (NKJV)
1.3.4 Work Towards It,
Don’t Lose It
We see in the next 2 verses how Jesus
Himself exhorts us to “lay up treasures in heaven”. This automatically brings to light a few thoughts:
1.
There are treasures of differing amounts for each of us in Heaven.
2.
We can do something about these differing amounts while here on
earth. It is almost as if we can lay up treasures as investment of
sorts.
3.
Whatever we lay up there cannot be destroyed.
It is also important to note that where our
treasure is, there our heart will also be. If we seek rewards that are this side of Heaven, here on
earth, then our heart, our priority, will be there. If we seek earthly wealth, we will put priority to working
for this. If we seek Heavenly
treasures, then our heart will seek the thing of heaven. Paul exhorts us in Colossians 3:2 to
set our minds on the things above, not the things on earth.
Matthew 6:19 “Do not lay up for
yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves
break in and steal; 20 but lay up for yourselves
treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves
do not break in and steal. 21 For where your
treasure is, there your heart will be also. (NKJV)
Luke 12:29 “And do not seek what you
should eat or what you should drink, nor have an anxious mind. 30 For all these things
the nations of the world seek after, and your Father knows that you need these
things. 31 But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you. 32 “Do not fear, little
flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell what you have
and give alms; provide yourselves money bags which do not grow old, a treasure
in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches nor moth destroys. 34 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (NKJV)
In the passage below, we again see the same
pattern.
1.
We are built on the foundation
of Jesus Christ. We are saved.
2.
We build on from here. It is up to us to choose daily how we
live, what we do.
3.
There will be a time of
reckoning, where we will receive rewards for our treasures in Heaven or
4.
Get into Heaven smelling of
smoke, without rewards.
1 Corinthians 3:9 For we are God’s fellow
workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building. 10 According to the grace of God
which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and
another builds on it. But let each one
take heed how he builds on it. 11 For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is
Jesus Christ. 12 Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold,
silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 13 each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will
declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each
one’s work, of what sort it is. 14 If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures,
he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone’s work is burned, he
will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire. (NKJV)
Later in the same
epistle, Paul further re-iterates, likening life to be a race, that we should
run to receive the prize. If we
are already saved, what prize is there to run if there were no rewards or if
these were unimportant in the sight of Paul?
1 Corinthians 9: 24 Do you not know that
those who run in a race all run, but one
receives the prize? Run in such a
way that you may obtain it. 25 And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a
perishable crown, but we for an imperishable
crown. (NKJV)
Here are a few things which Paul mentions in Colossians that can rob us
of our rewards – false humility, worship of angels, essentially false
religiosity. Key to this is the
fleshly mind, as opposed to one walking in the spirit. Verse 19 tells us how - we must hold
fast to the Head to be nourished. Stay with God's Word. Even so, as we become stronger in our
walk with the Lord and the knowledge of His Word, we must never allow pride to
set foot in the door of our lives. The Word must bear fruit, else it is a clear
sign that something is wrong.
Colossians 2:18 Let
no one cheat you of your reward, taking delight in false
humility and worship of angels, intruding into those things which he has not
seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, 19 and
not holding fast to the Head, from whom all the body, nourished and knit
together by joints and ligaments, grows with the increase that is from
God. (NKJV)
John in the passage
below reminds us very clearly that we should be careful not to lose the things
we worked for, but to go for the full reward.
2 John 1: 7 For many deceivers have
gone out into the world who do not confess Jesus Christ as coming in the
flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. 8 Look to yourselves, that we do not lose those things we
worked for, but that we may receive a full reward. (NKJV)
Revelation 3:11 Behold, I am coming
quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown.
(NKJV)
1.3.5
Paul
Himself Went After the Reward
Central in Paul’s
vision is to eschew, to ignore earthly comforts, that he could maximize his
reward, his prize. We see this in
many verses, including the one below:
Romans 8: 18 For I
consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed
in us. 19 For
the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the
sons of God. (NKJV)
I do not think his
efforts to discount his earthly life were about self-denial (as opposed to
denial of self – that is different) so much as ensuring that he remained
completely focused, not distracted, from the prize. We see this in how in many scriptures, Paul likens himself
to an athlete training or competing hard in a race, or a soldier enlisted for
war.
Acts 20:24 But none of these things
move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I
received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. (NKJV)
If we take that into
our own context, applying it to ourselves, it means that over and beyond
getting saved, clearly Paul went after a reward, an end, which was beyond
this. It would be great just to be
saved, but to sit in the pews thereafter waiting for this is clearly missing
it. We have a race to finish and
we must gear to finish it with joy!
Paul took this seriously. To him, attaining this reward was not
an option, not a side dish to salvation.
It was the penultimate purpose after having been saved by grace. It is clear that the goal he was
working was finite and tangible to him, like the prize in a race, that he worked hard and purposefully towards it
with certainty, making sure that all his members were headed in the same
direction, that all his purposes narrowed onto one goal. There is even mention of disqualification, as if rewards or
prizes he was entitled to would not be gotten, even in the position of his that
we see as being so vaunted in the kingdom.
How much more us?
► 1 Co 9: 24 Do you
not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run
in such a way that you may obtain it. 25 And
everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they
do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. 26 Therefore I run thus: not with
uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. 27 But I discipline my body and
bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself
should become disqualified. (NKJV)
Paul was willing to forego
much in this world for the furtherance of the Gospel because he realized one
truth, a great kingdom principle, the one who desires to be first must be the
slave, that the last shall be first.
► Mt 20:25 But Jesus called them to Himself and
said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it
over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. 26 Yet it shall not be
so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your
servant. 27 And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave— 28 just as the Son of
Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for
many.” (NKJV)
► Mt 19:29 And everyone who has left
houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands,
for My name’s sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life. 30 But many who are
first will be last, and the last first. (NKJV)
It is not as if Paul did this coldly
only for the rewards either, for it was this same great man who said
► 1 Co 13:3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the
poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits
me nothing. (NKJV)
Paul hit the nail on
the head – this race we are in is a race won by helping others win, and doing
so in the love that God first loved us with!
► Jn 13:34 A new commandment I give to
you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one
another. 35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for
one another.” (NKJV)
Running the race refers
closely to the areas Paul has already mentioned:
his
rights and his willingness to give it up for the gospel
his
compulsion to preach the Gospel
his
readiness to be all things to all men that some might be saved
See Philippians 2:14-16 , 1
Cor 9:24-26 , Heb 12:1 , Gal 2:2
Updated 22 Feb 09
14 Mar 09
Paul's exhortation here is
that we should
1. Realise that we are
working towards a very tangible goal
2. Like athletes, we thus
should be disciplined in this process
What we will attain is
eternal, so we should take heed constantly to discipline our lives towards
this.
10 Nov 2009
This is a race in which it
works only if we work hard at makiing others win the race!
Galatians 2:2 And I went up by revelation,
and communicated to them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but
privately to those who were of reputation, lest
by any means I might run, or had run, in vain.
(NKJV)
Philippians 2:14 Do all things without
complaining and disputing, 15 that
you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the
midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in
the world, 16 holding
fast the word of life, so that I may
rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain.
(NKJV)
Philippians 3: 12 Not that I have already
attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that
for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. 13 Brethren, I do not count myself
to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which
are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call
of God in Christ Jesus. (NKJV)
2 Timothy 2:4 No one engaged in warfare
entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him
who enlisted him as a soldier. 5 And
also if anyone competes in athletics, he is not crowned unless he competes
according to the rules. (NKJV)
2 Timothy 4:7 I have fought the good
fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of
righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but
also to all who have loved His appearing. (NKJV)
Paul's exhortation here is that we should
1.
Realise that we are working
towards a very tangible goal
2.
Like athletes, we thus should
be disciplined in this process
What we will attain is eternal, so we
should take heed constantly to discipline our lives towards this.
Running the race
refers closely to the areas Paul has already mentioned:
·
his rights
and his willingness to give it up for the gospel
·
his
compulsion to preach the Gospel
·
his
readiness to be all things to all men that some might be saved
See Philippians 2:14-16
, 1 Cor 9:24-26 , Heb 12:1 , Gal 2:2
Philippians 1:21 For to me, to live is
Christ, and to die is gain. (NKJV)
1.4
What is the Reward?
I would be doing you a great disservice if
I could write in a few paragraphs what I think the reward will be or be like. The fact of the matter I believe, is
that it cannot be put in a box, fathomed in human knowledge. Already, we are told that God’s love
surpasses our fleshly mind’s ability to grasp.
Having said that, let me encourage you with
a list of verses that would give you a glimpse of what it is, that by faith the
Lord would reveal to you individually the depth and majesty of what awaits you
upon entering heaven.
The first two verses you saw in this study
give me a glimpse of what the Reward is about. I believe it has a lot to do with sweet intimacy with the
Creator, which would far exceed any material or immaterial rewards.
1.4.1
God Himself
John 17:3 And this is eternal life, that
they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.
(NKJV)
Genesis 15: 1 After
these things the word of the Lord
came to Abram in a vision, saying, “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your
shield, your exceedingly great reward.” (NKJV)
1.4.2
Being in His Presence
There is great pleasure when we are in His
presence. This is intrinsically
linked with rewards.
Psalm 16:11 You
will show me the path of life; In Your
presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures
forevermore. (NKJV)
[There are different levels of closeness in
heaven – see revelation]
Matthew 20:23 So He said to them, “You will indeed drink My cup, and be baptized with the
baptism that I am baptized with; but to sit on My right hand and on My left is
not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it is prepared by My
Father.” (NKJV)
[There are positions to be had]
Isaiah 35:10 And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, And come to Zion with singing, With everlasting joy on their heads.
They shall obtain joy and gladness, And sorrow and sighing shall flee away.
(NKJV)
1.4.3 Crown of Life
Revelation 2:10 Do not fear any of
those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw
some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have
tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of
life. (NKJV)
Revelation 3:11 Behold, I am coming
quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown.
(NKJV)
1 Corinthians 9:25 And everyone who competes for
the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a
perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown.
(NKJV)
James 1: 12 Blessed is the
man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the
crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.
(NKJV)
2 Timothy 4:8 Finally, there is laid up for
me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give
to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His
appearing. (NKJV)
Those of us who earnestly love His appearing will
fulfill the rest!
1 Peter 5:4 and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will
receive the crown of glory that does not fade away.
(NKJV)
1.5
Going
After the Rewards
1.5.1
The Key to
the Rewards
Love – all of God’s
love for us, put on others
If you are looking for
10 things you can do to get the rewards, I am sorry, but I don’t have them!
The behaviour that
gives rewards are fruits resulting from attitudes, not activities.
1.5.2
Love and
Rewards
Key and central to attaining rewards is having love. Every time I see the word “love” in the Word, I see the word
“God”, because 1 John 4:8 puts it plainly that “God is love”. We can only love to the measure that we
understand God’s love for us.
There is a profit, Paul notes,
but the moment we do anything for any reason other than this, it deprives us of
this. We need a good dose of
understanding of God’s love like it says in Ephesians 3:18-19, to understand
the “width and length and depth and height” of the love of Christ’s which
“passes knowledge” that we might be “filled with all the fullness of God”.
We need first to understand God’s love.
1 Corinthians 13:3 And though I bestow all
my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing. (NKJV)
The other attitude, again a response to God’s love, is to do all as unto
God, not to men.
Colossians 3:23 And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the
inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ. (NKJV)
Peter puts it this way:
that we as Christians should have compassion and love, to be
tenderhearted and courteous, not rude or vicious or vindictive, for there is a
blessing to be inherited at the end of this. While I am not clear if this blessing is now or in eternity
(I would like to think both), I would take it nonetheless.
1 Peter 3: 8 Finally,
all of you be of one mind,
having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; 9 not returning evil for evil or
reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called
to this, that you may inherit a blessing.
(NKJV)
Ancillary to our
success as a whole, I believe, are these 3 verses, which we should meditate on:
Galatians 5: 16 I say
then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.
(NKJV)
2 Corinthians 5:7 For we walk by faith, not by
sight. (NKJV)
Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with
Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life
which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me
and gave Himself for me. (NKJV)
1.5.3
Seeking
the Lord
Matthew 6:33 But seek first the
kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to
you. (NKJV)
Matthew 13: 44 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which
a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and
buys that field. (NKJV)
Matthew 13: 45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful
pearls, 46 who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that
he had and bought it. (NKJV)
Hebrews 11:6 But 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 diligently seek Him. (NKJV)
God wants me to believe that
as I seek Him, I shall be rewarded!
Actually, He considers it faith when I believe that He is a rewarder.
[As we seek more, we will find
more of His love and we will love more and in it there is more rewards etc.]
1.5.4
Faith in
the Lord
Hebrews 10:35 Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has
great reward. 36 For you have need of endurance, so that after you have
done the will of God, you may receive the promise: 37 “For yet a little while,
And He who is coming will come and will not tarry. 38 Now the just shall live
by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him.” 39 But we are not of those who draw
back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul. (NKJV)
Hebrews 11:6 But 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 diligently seek Him. (NKJV)
Hebrews 11:24 By faith Moses, when he
became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, 25 choosing rather to suffer
affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, 26 esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the
treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward. (NKJV)
1 Peter 1:6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a
little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 that the genuineness of your
faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is
tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of
Jesus Christ, 8 whom
having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing,
you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, 9 receiving
the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls.
(NKJV)
Luke 19:17 And he said to him, ‘Well done,
good servant; because you were faithful
in a very little, have authority over ten cities.’ 18 And the second came, saying, ‘Master, your mina has earned five minas.’ 19 Likewise he said to
him, ‘You also be over five cities.’ (NKJV)
Revelation 2:10 Do not fear any of
those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw
some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have
tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of
life. (NKJV)
Revelation 3:11 Behold, I am coming
quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown.
(NKJV)
1.5.5
Serving
the Lord/Labouring in the Word
Colossians 3:23 And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not
to men, 24 knowing
that from the Lord you will receive the
reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.
(NKJV)
1 Corinthians 3:8 Now he who plants and he
who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his
own labor. (NKJV)
1.5.6
Love for
the Brethren
Loving
and receiving brethren, especially prophets.
Mark 9:41 For whoever
gives you a cup of water to drink in My name, because you belong to Christ,
assuredly, I say to you, he will by no
means lose his reward. (NKJV)
His instructions are
clear: receive prophets, other Christians and believers and receive a due
reward for them. Receiving a
prophet as who he is makes us entitled to the prophet’s reward! How we should make haste to do this!
Matthew 10:40 “He who
receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me. 41 He who receives a prophet in the name of a
prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward. And he who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man
shall receive a righteous man’s reward. 42 And whoever gives one of these little ones only
a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, assuredly, I say to you,
he shall by no means lose his reward.” (NKJV)
1.5.7 Compassion for the
Poor
Giving to the poor is one of the things that God rewards us for. Compassion.
Matthew 19:21 Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in
heaven; and come, follow Me.” 22 But
when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great
possessions. (NKJV)
Mark 10:21 Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said
to him, “One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the
poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross,
and follow Me.” 22 But
he was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.
(NKJV)
Luke 18:22 So when Jesus heard these things, He said to
him, “You still lack one thing. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have
treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” 23 But
when he heard this, he became very sorrowful, for he was very rich.
(NKJV)
Where your priority is is where your heart
will be. Put your money where your
mouth is.
Matthew 6: 19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust
destroy and where thieves break in and steal; 20 but lay up for yourselves
treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do
not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
(NKJV)
Luke 12:32 “Do not fear, little flock,
for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell what you have and give alms; provide yourselves money bags which do
not grow old, a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief
approaches nor moth destroys. 34 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
(NKJV)
1.5.8
Charitable
Deeds Done in Secret
There are rewards for charitable deeds done
from the heart, for the right cause.
If we do these for our own glory, there will not be any reward.
He tells us to give in
secret so we will have a reward from the Father openly.
Matthew 6: 1 “Take heed that you do not do your charitable
deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from
your Father in heaven. 2 Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you
as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have
glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 3 But when you do a
charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 that your charitable
deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself
reward you openly. (NKJV)
1.5.9
Loving
Enemies, Doing Good
There is a reward for loving your enemies.
He exhorts us to love
our enemies, so that unlike those who love only those who love them, they would
have a reward.
Matthew 5: 43 “You have heard
that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, love
your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and
pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of
your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good,
and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward
have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet your brethren only, what do
you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? (NKJV)
Luke 6: 27 “But I say to
you who are listening, love your enemies. Do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse
you, pray for those who are cruel to you. 29 If anyone slaps you on one cheek, offer him the
other cheek, too. If someone takes your coat, do not stop him from taking your
shirt. 30 Give to everyone who
asks you, and when someone takes something that is yours, don’t ask for it
back. 31 Do to others what you
would want them to do to you. 32 If you love only the people who love you, what praise
should you get? Even sinners love the people who love them. 33 If you do good only to
those who do good to you, what praise should you get? Even sinners do that! 34 If you lend things to
people, always hoping to get something back, what praise should you get? Even
sinners lend to other sinners so that they can get back the same amount! 35 But love your enemies,
do good to them, and lend to them without hoping to get anything back. Then you
will have a great reward, and you will be children of the Most High God,
because he is kind even to people who are ungrateful and full of sin. 36 Show mercy, just as
your Father shows mercy. (NCV)
This whole passage is referring closely to
the attitude of mercy towards those who don't like you, people whom one might
consider to be at enmity with.
1.5.10
Leaving
World Behind to Follow Jesus
Matthew 19: 27 Then
Peter answered and said to Him, “See, we have left all and followed You.
Therefore what shall we have?” 28 So
Jesus said to them, “Assuredly I say to you, that in
the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who
have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of
Israel. 29 And everyone who has
left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or
lands, for My name’s sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal
life. 30 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.
(NKJV)
Mark 10:29 So Jesus answered and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house
or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My
sake and the gospel’s, 30 who shall not
receive a hundredfold now in this time—houses and brothers and sisters and
mothers and children and lands, with persecutions—and in the age to come,
eternal life. 31 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”
(NKJV)
1.5.11
Enduring
Temptation
James 1: 12 Blessed is the
man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those
who love Him. (NKJV)
1.5.12
Praying In
Private
There is a reward for praying in secret!
He tells us to pray in
secret, to spend time with Him, again
in the thought that we will be rewarded openly by the Father.
Matthew 6: 5 “And when you pray,
you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the
synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men.
Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 6 But you, when
you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your
Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in
secret will reward you openly. (NKJV)
1.5.13
Fasting in
Private
Matthew 6: 16 “Moreover, when
you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they
disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I
say to you, they have their reward. 17 But you, when you fast,
anoint your head and wash your face, 18 so that you do not appear to men to be fasting,
but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father
who sees in secret will reward you openly. (NKJV)
There is a reward for fasting! But what is the purpose of fasting?
1.5.14
Stewardship
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.’ (NKJV)
Matthew 25:23 His lord said to
him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over
a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of
your lord.’ (NKJV)
Luke 19:17 And he said to him, ‘Well done,
good servant; because you were faithful in a very little, have authority over
ten cities.’ (NKJV)
Revelation 22: 12 “And behold, I
am coming quickly, and My reward is
with Me, to give to every one according to his work. (NKJV)
Done with love
2 Corinthians 5:10 For we must all appear
before the judgment seat of Christ, that
each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he
has done, whether good or bad. (NKJV)
1 Corinthians 3:8 Now he who plants and he
who waters are one, and each one will
receive his own reward according to his own labor. (NKJV)
Revelation 22: 12 “And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to
give to every one according to his work. (NKJV)
1 Corinthians 9: 24 Do you
not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run
in such a way that you may obtain it. 25 And
everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they
do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. 26 Therefore I run thus: not with
uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. 27 But I discipline my body and
bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself
should become disqualified. (NKJV)
1.5.15
Falsely Reviled for Jesus’ Sake
Matthew 5:11 “Blessed are
you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you
falsely for My sake. 12 Rejoice and be
exceedingly glad, for great is
your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. (NKJV)
When we have faith in God's Word, and we
are persecuted for God's sake, the Word says plainly that we should find cause
to "Rejoice and be exceedingly glad". It is almost as if we should look
forward to be persecuted for the Lord's sake, knowing full well that there is a
great reward awaiting us.
1.5.16 Receiving the Crown
of Life for Tribulation
Revelation 2:10 Do not fear any of
those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw
some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have
tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of
life. (NKJV)
Revelation 3:11 Behold, I am coming
quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown.
(NKJV)
1.6
Going in the Right Direction –
Fruitfulness
1.7
Other
Mention of Rewards
2 Samuel 22:21 “The Lord rewarded me according to my righteousness; According to
the cleanness of my hands He has recompensed me. (NKJV)
2 Chronicles 15:7 But you, be strong and do not
let your hands be weak, for your work shall be rewarded!”
(NKJV)
Job 34:11 For He repays man according to his work,
And makes man to find a reward according to his way.
(NKJV)
Psalm 18:20 The Lord
rewarded me according to my righteousness; According to the cleanness of my
hands He has recompensed me. (NKJV)
Psalm 19:9 The fear of the Lord
is clean, enduring forever; The
judgments of the Lord are
true and righteous altogether. 10 More
to be desired are they than gold, Yea, than much fine gold; Sweeter also
than honey and the honeycomb. 11 Moreover
by them Your servant is warned, And
in keeping them there is great reward. (NKJV)
Psalm 58:11 So that men will say, “Surely there is a reward for the righteous; Surely He is God
who judges in the earth.” (NKJV)
Proverbs 11:18 The wicked man does
deceptive work, But he who sows
righteousness will have a sure reward. (NKJV)
Proverbs 13:13 He who despises the word will
be destroyed, But he who fears the
commandment will be rewarded. (NKJV)
Proverbs 25:21 If your enemy is hungry, give
him bread to eat; And if he is thirsty, give him water to drink; 22 For so you will heap
coals of fire on his head, And the Lord will reward you.
(NKJV)
Ecclesiastes 4: 9 Two are
better than one, Because they have a good reward for their labor.
(NKJV)
Isaiah 40:10 Behold, the Lord God shall come with a strong hand,
And His arm shall rule for Him; Behold,
His reward is with Him, And His work before Him.
(NKJV)
Isaiah 49:4 Then I said, ‘I have labored in vain, I have
spent my strength for nothing and in vain; Yet
surely my just reward is with the Lord,
And my work with my God.’ ” (NKJV)
Isaiah 62:11 Indeed the Lord has proclaimed To the end of the
world: “Say to the daughter of Zion, ‘Surely your salvation is coming; Behold, His reward is with Him,
And His work before Him.’ ” (NKJV)
Jeremiah 31:16 Thus says the Lord: “Refrain your voice from weeping,
And your eyes from tears; For your work
shall be rewarded, says the Lord,
And they shall come back from the land of the enemy.
(NKJV)
1.8
About the author
Chris Tan is just a regular Joe Blow
Christian who enjoys God’s Word and His fellowship. He does not come backed by a big ministry name, does not
pastor any church, nor does he have a string of credentials against his
own. All that sort of stuff can be
great, but he has none of them.
Chris merely realised from the Word of God
a simple truth – that he is God’s very own son, loved and empowered by Him to
do great things for the Kingdom.
If you believe in Jesus as your Lord and
Saviour, you too, have that same power already.
