When Did We Remove Rewards?

February 3rd, 2010faithfulness, rewards 5 Comments

Hey Friends,

Let me ask you a question: When did we remove rewards? For most of the time I have gone to church, which is almost 30 years, I have not heard a peep about rewards. Why did we remove them? This is a topic found all through the Revelation of God, and by that I mean the Bible.

Many of the earliest characters of the Canon believed they would be rewarded by God for their life or service to Him. They thought that because, He said so. Abraham, Moses and most of the others thought they would be rewarded. Remember Nehemiah? He reminded God several times throughout the book that bears his name of all he had done for God.

Why is it that we rarely remember our rewards? Do they not motivate us anymore? Maybe we feel it is really not spiritual to consider the rewards offered by our Lord. For whatever reason, we have omitted them. God did not forget and He will reward His faithful and His fruitful. It seems odd how He says we are blessed when we are persecuted and suffer for His name’s sake. It is because we miss the next phrase, “Your reward is great in heaven.”

Do you ever consider what reward will be revealed to the righteous overcomers? Getting into heaven is totally by grace, but the rewards we receive at the Bema Seat of judgment are totally by our merit. Are you living a life that will be rewarded in heaven? Do you know what kind of life He rewards? Do you know the crowns He will pass out?

I am going to teach a series on rewards later this year or next year, and most will have never heard a series or a sermon on the topic. I wonder why? What do you think?

Live like it could be your last day,

Pastor Chris

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5 Responses to “When Did We Remove Rewards?”

  1. February 3rd, 2010 at 10:23 am
    Lee Easley Says:

    good question! A couple reasons why I don’t think about the rewards that are talked about in the Bible are:

    1. Normally when rewards are brought up people are being sarcastic…so i feel like its something that people will think I’m crazy about for even bringing it up.

    2. People often have a wide idea of what the rewards might be (ie. earthly joy/verses heavenly crowns)so its a hard topic to talk about.

    3. I don’t know exactly what defines a moment when i should receive a reward for something that I have done…make sense? I know when i finish a race i or win a contest that a reward is coming…but its hard to link a reward to something i cannot see…or even know what the reward looks like.

    Is this what you are talking about? or am I way off?

  2. February 3rd, 2010 at 11:19 am
    sabrina Says:

    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.

    Mathew 6:20-21 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where niether moth nor rust doth corrupt,and where theives do not break through nor steal: for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

    Proverbs 4:23 Keep the heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.

    It is imperative and a most needed necessity in our following of Christ to keep our minds stayed on His rewards reserved for us. In the midst of the storm when there is nothing left to hold on to but God it is His goodness that preserves the faith that protects our hearts and the hope that protects our minds from the onslought of attacks from the enemy. His Holy Spirit WILL remind such a one, of all the gems that are stored up because of the relationship we share as heirs with Christ. As His children.

    Its been my experience, not always, but quite often the most precious gems or reward, has come through a time of suffering. In that suffering although I may have went kicking and screaming, when the turmoil is reprieved a little, and I hear the still small voice of Jesus He is always faithful to reveal the gem or reward of deeper maturity, wisdom or intimacy that can come only from Him. In that, is stability; an anchor for the soul, something that refines us to such a degree that no man or circumstance can ever take from us again and in turn because He freely gave the reward we now have the capacity to strengthen not only our own lives, through trust toward our Lord, but can help others who are learning to do the same.

    And I stand in AWE of the ways of God and the unsearchable riches of His LOVE.

  3. February 3rd, 2010 at 11:26 am
    Willie Tilton Says:

    More teaching is needed on this subject. Like Lee said, its hard to look forward to something you don’t know much about.
    This sort of hazy idea of something good in heaven, well, that’s all most people know of heavenly rewards. Its hard to get jazzed up about that.
    I had NEVER heard of the Bema seat until we started going to Faith Promise. John and I are not new Christians, and have attended lots of fantastic contemporary churches trying to study and learn what we can.
    This issue needs to be taught, and I’m really excited that you are going to be doing a sermon series on it!
    I would just love it if you could post scripture references for us to study on this subject.
    I have no idea why its not taught. It should be!

  4. February 3rd, 2010 at 1:49 pm
    Overcomer Says:

    A few months back this is how God had given me this word.
    “Whatever you do- do it heartily as unto the Lord and not unto man and God who sees in secret will reward you openly.” Little did I know how I would be greatly tested in this. One plants, another waters, but it is God who gives the increase. In one situation we may be the planter, in another we may be doing the watering as in
    I Cor 3:6-9 “I have planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. So then neither is he that planteth anything, neither he that watereth; but God giveth the increase. Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one; and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour. For we are labourers together with God; ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building.” We should labour not to receive accolades from men, but from God. When we sow into the lives of others out of a heart of compassion and see their struggle, you may be the only one at the moment in their life. You look beyond the fault and see the need. As spoken in a previous post “they may be kicking and screaming.” When you are sowing into such a one, God gives you the grace and mercy to endure. That is true love. When you see the ugliest of someone, not judge them, and still be there. Restoring them in the spirit of meekness. Not looking for any glory of your own. Because whether or not they see your intent, God does. God who sees in secret WILL reward you. So we give cheerfully, not expecting anything in return, As unto the Lord. In layman’s terms: one may have to do some digging i.e. the dirty work, rooting up if you will. He may be the planter. It is definitely is not as hard, but needful. Then you have the one watering. They may receive the accolades because they are there for the manifestation. Remember the earlier scripture, they are the same, but it is God who gives the increase. To Him be glory and honor forevermore.
    ***********************************************
    When you do your alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: That your alms may be in secret; and they Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.(Matt 6:3-4, read Matt 6:1-4)

    Whatsoever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.

  5. February 5th, 2010 at 8:57 am
    Ron Duncan Says:

    “If there lurks in most modern minds the notion that to desire our own good and earnestly to hope for the enjoyment of it is a bad thing, I submit that this notion has crept in from Kant and the Stoics and is no part of the Christian faith. Indeed, if we consider the unblushing promises of reward and the staggering nature of the rewards promised in the Gospels, it would seem that our Lord finds our desires, not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.” – (The Weight of Glory, 26 – C.S. Lewis)

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