Rewards

You may have heard the expression: When you serve the Lord the rewards are out of this world. We could truthfully reword that to say: When you serve the Devil the rewards are out of this world. Much more than 99.9 percent of the rewards are in the future for both the child of God and the unbeliever. By the future I mean after death. Even though we believers get less than 00.1 percent of our rewards in this earthly life, they are wonderful. Even if the only rewards we got were the less than 00.1 percent in this life they would be worth it.

Romans 8:18: For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

We get unspeakable joy.

1 Peter 1:8: Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:

We get peace that we can*t fully define.

Philippians 4:7: And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

John 14:27: Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

We have God*s providence to meet every need.

Philippians 4:19: But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

Even the things God withholds from us are for our benefit.

Psalms 84:11: For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.

We can enjoy the greatest reward right here and right now. God Himself is our reward.

Genesis 15:1: After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.

Some believers will receive more, different and better rewards than others.

Luke 6:35: But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.

There will also be different degrees of damnation for unbelievers.

Matthew 23:14: Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows* houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation.

Everything we do for the Lord will be rewarded. Everything!! Here on earth we deal with a lot of people who may not remember or appreciate what we do for them. God always remembers. God always keeps His promises. He is the perfect record keeper. He is the perfect rewarder.

Mark 9:41: For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward.

If we do not seek Him -- no rewards.

Matthew 6:33: But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Hebrews 11:6: But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

People will not and do not come to God because they don*t believe that His rewards are good or that He is good. Many people do not come to God because they think He is a taker away of things rather than a rewarder. Many people do not come to God because they think He will be a punisher to them rather than a rewarder.

God gives the greatest rewards. The greatest bargain possible is to serve the Lord. It*s a bargain we really can*t afford to pass up.

Revelation 22:12: And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.

Matthew 25:23: His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

1 Corinthians 3:11-14: For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man*s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man*s work of what sort it is. If any man*s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.

We spend, lose or waste what we save here on earth. Or those things simply rot, wear away or disintegrate. Even if they don*t we can*t take them with us.

Matthew 6:19-20: Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:

An Incorruptible Crown

1 Corinthians 9:25: And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.

A Crown for Simply Loving His Appearing

2 Timothy 4:8: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

A Crown for Resisting Temptation and Loving Him

James 1:12: Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

A Crown for Giving out God*s Word

1 Peter 5:2-4: Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; Neither as being lords over God*s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.

A Crown for Being Faithful in Suffering

Revelation 2:10: Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.

It*s hard to describe how wonderful it is to have the Lord. We often focus our thoughts on the little baubles He gives us rather than on Him. We are like a miner who gets excited about one gold nugget when he has a whole mine full of them. The best of the rewards from the Lord are in the future. He Himself is our reward right here and right now if we are believers. We have the best reward right now!

Psalms 73:26: My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.

Psalm 16:5: The LORD is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup: thou maintainest my lot.

Lamentations 3:24: The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him.

Care to discuss Rewards with Ron?

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