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Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done. Revelation 22:12
D.L. MOODY
If I understand things correctly, whenever you find men or women who are looking to be rewarded here for doing right, they are unqualified to work for God; because if they are looking for the applause of men, looking for reward in this life, it will disqualify them for the service of God.
ERWIN LUTZER
God doesn’t have a pay scale in heaven by which He evaluates us like people do on Earth. It isn’t an employer-employee relationship at all. It would be wrong to think, “Well, thirty years of service, therefore thirty crowns; twenty-five years of service, twenty-five crowns.”
Paul says we should be “filled with the fruit of righteousness,” which refers not only to our works done for the glory of God, but also our attitudes while doing them (Philippians 1:11). If we give a cup of cold water in His name, we will not lose our reward (Matthew 10:42) because Jesus makes such works perfect. The only person God is really satisfied with is Christ. And God is satisfied with us because we are in Christ, and so our works are made acceptable because of Jesus.
Jesus said, “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me” (John 15:4). Now notice! Apart from Christ, we can do nothing. Christ is not saying we can’t do anything without Him. He is saying we cannot do anything that will really last without Him. Ultimately, God rewards us for the work He does in and through us.
So, as Moody said, we do not look to be rewarded in this life, but rather in the life to come.
PRAYER
Father, keep me faithful and give me the desire to seek your approval, not the praise of men.REFLECTION QUESTIONS
God has already given us His Son, what more could He give us as a reward in eternity?Read Revelation 4:1-11. How might this change your perspective on our heavenly rewards?