Above and Beyond the Call of Duty

The subject of reward should be very important to Christians because it is the time when all good fruit of your life is vindicated. Your choices in life will be show to have been the right choices, that you were on the right side… which is God’s side. Rev 11:18

We don’t often dwell on the subject of reward because it gets all tangled up in the various misunderstandings about “trying to earn your salvation”. Understanding the biblical teaching on reward means understanding the difference between the judgment of your sin (which leads to salvation unto eternal life or eternal death) versus judgment of your works – (which leads to reward).

The judgment upon you sins has already been spelled out for you à you are justified (made right with God) through your faith in Jesus Christ. The sacrifice of Jesus Christ has paid the penalty for your sins and His resurrected life has opened up the door to eternal life for you. You enter into this through your baptism and it’s yours to have as long as you want it (meaning you always have the option to throw it away).

The judgment upon your works is a different matter. Judgment upon you works is about what sort of person you were while you lived in the flesh, your character, your nature – refer to chart – Three little pigs

Other reasons we shy away from the idea of reward:

The influence of communist/collectivist philosophy / The American ideal of equality

Some might be embarrassed by the idea that we might be trying to get ahead of the other guy… which seems un-Christian and unworthy of the humility and self-sacrifice exemplified by Jesus. … If you are one of those people then don’t worry, you are not going to be getting ahead of anyone in the way we think of it here in the flesh.

What are the rewards God has in store?

We tend to think of reward in terms of, more money, a bag of candy, more power, more status and so forth. But what rewards does God have in store… scripturally we don’t really have a lot of details or specifics. We get an inkling from various scriptures such as the parable of the pounds and talents that reward is tied into greater responsibility or authority. However, if you know anything about the nature of God through Jesus Christ you know that greater responsibility and authority really an opportunity to serve others to an even greater degree…

Along these lines I like to think of 2 Cor 2:9 which says "Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.''

The Idea of working in the hope of a reward IS Biblical

Matt 6:19-21              Seek after treasures that are everlasting 

                                    Referring to something more than eternal life (eternal life is a free gift)

Matt 16:24-27            the whole thrust of seeking reward from the Father appears to move in the opposite direction to the pursuit of getting ahead of the other guy

How do we seek reward?

If the time when we give account of ourselves before God is not about sin then what is God going to be evaluating? Our sins are forgiven, right? So it must be based on something else.

The final reward of a Christian life is often pictured as a crown 1 Cor 9:23-27

Draw the distinction between:

Stephanos: a crown that is a symbol or celebration of accomplishment (not a gift)

Diadem: a crown that is a symbol of office – only used in two places both referring to Satan Rev 12:1-3 and 13:1

Let’s take a quick look at types of service that relate to reward:

1. James 1:12 enduring temptation – need to explain the crown of life
2. Luke 6:22-23 enduring persecution for sake of Christ (Matt 5:12)
3. Rev 2:10 willing to die for Christ
4. 2 Tim 4:6-8 faithfully doing God’s work and loving His appearing
5. 1 Thess 2:19-20 soul winning – helping to convert people
6. 1 Cor 3:8 faithful pastoral work also 1 Pet 5:2-7  faithful pastoral work (read on--because of context could extend to humility and self-control… fruits of the H.S.)
7. Luke 6:27-35 love your enemies, generosity (not hoping for anything in return) – implies forgiveness, which requires humility and self-control …fruits of the H.S.
8. Matt 6:1-4 Almsgiving (in secret)
9. Matt 6:5-6 (in secret, not vain repetition)
10. Matt 6:16-18 Fasting
11. Matt 10:40-42 (Mark 9:41) hospitality toward fellow workers for God
12. Col 3:22-24 Serving wholeheartedly as if working for God – (Eph 6:7-9 shows this also applies to the master as well as the servant)
13. Heb 10:35 having confidence in the promises of God over material well being and status (Hebrews 11:26)
14. Hebrews 11:6 earnestly seeking God – seeking His will, and character for example: bible study

Note: these works (which are unto reward) are not matters of obedience and sin they are matters of character – who are you what are you like inside.

Rewards can be lost or diminished

Matt 6:1-2 doing you acts of righteousness for the sake of praise in the flesh forfeits reward from God

2 John 7-8 straying from the sound teaching of Christ into heresy

Col 2:18 you can lose your reward for worshipping angels

Rev 3:11 let no man take your crown KJV

Reward is about going above & beyond what is “required” of you

Luke 17:10 You are not rewarded for doing as you are commanded. You are rewarded for going above and beyond.

I Cor 9:14-19 Paul’s personal take on his ministry. Paul tells us that he preaches the gospel not because he volunteered for the job but because he was been commanded/compelled to do so by God.

Paul realizes that because it was not a voluntary assignment there is no “reward” in the equation. If he were doing what he did of his own free will then it would be different. However, Paul has elected to go above and beyond what God has commanded him by preaching free of charge.

Although he has every right to expect to make a living as a preacher/apostle like his peers he does not… He goes above and beyond to serve others, to preach the gospel and to sacrifice self for the sake of Jesus Christ and this is the sort of behavior, thinking, attitude that God likes and that He rewards!

Conclusion:

Working towards your reward is a sound biblical concept that should not get mixed up and lost in discussions about the mechanics of salvation. We may not have a lot of specifics or detail on the rewards God has in store but if we know Him, know his character and trust Him… then the rewards are beyond what we can imagine… The nature of the righteous acts God rewards are such that in pursuing them we actually build God-like character that does not crave reward and recognition… which of course is a real reward in and of itself.

If there was any doubt that reward is an essential biblical teaching fundamental to your calling… 

Rev 22:12