Reward: September 13, 2013

TODAY’S WORD FOR FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 13, 2013

REWARD

DEFINITION:

Something given or received for services rendered; merit; hardship; compensation for doing good.

SCRIPTURE:

Surely there is a reward for the righteous; surely He is God who judges in the earth. Psalm 58:11.

I will punish them for their ways, and reward them for their deeds. Hosea 4:9

Rejoice and be exceedingly glad for great is your reward in heaven. Matthew 5:12

But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great. Luke 6:35.

And each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor.
I Corinthians 3:8.

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

It seems that it is human nature to respond to rewards. Children will do special projects for a parent when there is a reward involved. Students generally will go the extra mile to complete an assignment when there is a reward involved. In the work place employees always do a job more accurately and with more speed when there is a reward involved.

After the big earthquake we went through in 1971 in Los Angeles, a freeway that was demolished needed to be rebuilt quickly as it was a main traffic route. The city offered a bonus for each day that the construction company finished the rebuilding before the agreed upon completion date. It was amazing to see how fast the job was completed. But the financial reward was great and encouraged hard and efficient work.

In the Bible there are many references to rewards. Almost without exception when the scriptures mention reward it is for those of us who are faithful in serving the Lord here on earth and the reward we will receive in heaven. What an awesome promise. As Christians we should want to do things to help others without the need for a reward, nevertheless God has promised a reward for being obedient to His teachings and the giving of ourselves to serve Him by helping others. (Luke 6:35)

One of the things we strived to teach our children was a good work ethic. We taught them early on that they should always try to do their best in everything they attempted. Colossians 3:23 reads: “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart as working for the Lord, not for man, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Jesus you are serving.”

We knew that in school and later in the work place our children would see many of their peers doing as little as possible to get by. We wanted them to understand that as Christians they were serving Christ and also representing Him so they needed to fulfill their responsibilities completely and efficiently. We also shared with them that their life might be the only “BIBLE” that their peers would ever read.

LEARNING:

Our memory verse for this week is found in John 3:7.

Do not be amazed that I said unto you, you must be born again.

PRAYER:

Help me to remember to do the things today that honor Your name. Make me a blessing to those that my life touches. Thank You for the promises that are in Your Word of the rewards that are waiting for me in heaven if I live in obedience to Your Word. Keep me faithful in studying Your Word so that I may live a life that brings glory to Your name and so that others will see Christ in me.