Matthew’s Gospel: Reward

We do not labor in this world for our Savior without hope of eternal reward. The promise of rewards is not our primary motivation, but these promises encourage us along the way.

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God’s creation is one of cause and effect, sowing and reaping, and work and reward.

The Christ-follower does not follow Jesus without the promise of substantial reward. This is not selfishness or a less noble motivation; it is a natural desire deep within the heart God gave each of us. Jesus spoke to this eloquently. Let us hear His words today.

“…he who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward.”

We do not follow Christ in order to be rewarded for it; we follow Him because:

  • He loves us.
  • He has called us.
  • He is worthy.

Along with these marvelous motivations, there is the promise of a rich reward, not just in the world to come, but in this life also.

Heavenly Rewards

Paul writes of life as a race. Each runner disciplines the flesh and prepares to finish the race. Unlike earthly competition where only one person gets the prize, in this race, all may win a crown! He advises us to order our lives around what it takes to run the race and get the crown. New Testament writers like John the Beloved admit that the rewards of heaven are so great they can not be adequately described in earthly language.

“Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be…”

We anticipate our rewards by faith in the words of the Bible:

  • I go to prepare a place for you…
  • Lay up treasures in heaven…
  • A Crown of Righteousness…
  • A Crown of Life…

We do not labor in this world for our Savior without hope of eternal reward. The promise of rewards is not our primary motivation, but these promises encourage us along the way.

Earthly Rewards

The Christ-follower does not have to wait for heaven to receive substantial rewards. Jesus mentions some ways of serving Him that is well within our reach.

  • Accepting God’s Anointed Ones. The church is built on teamwork. That means there are leaders and followers. Everyone knows that before one can be an effective leader, one has to excel at following! When we “receive” those whom God has sent to us, not only do we share their work, we share their reward. In the church, all the glory goes to the Lord Jesus, the power of the work is that of the Holy Spirit, and the house itself, meaning the people of God, is the Father’s House! Work and rewards for all!
  • Cups of Cold Water. To quote from Frank Capra’s amazing film, “It’s a Wonderful Life,” “just a little of everyday human kindness.” That’s what Jesus meant by sharing cups of cold water to the “little ones” we meet. No trumpet fanfares, no flashing lights, no publicity, just “everyday human kindness”—that’s what Jesus was talking about. This is within ready reach of all of us. We do these things because the need is there. We have no thought of reward but in heaven’s books, these simple deeds are recorded and never forgotten.

Receiving and Giving

In God’s economy, the laws of sowing and reaping are still at work. If we sow sparingly, that is how we shall reap. If we sow bountifully, a bountiful harvest will be ours. To sow good things by working together and by unseen acts of kindness is to reap a harvest of rewards, some here and now and others in the life to come.

Scriptures:

Matthew 10:40-42
“He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me. He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward. And he who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward. And whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward.”

1 Corinthians 9:24-27
Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.

1 John 3:1-3
Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.

2 Timothy 4:6-8
For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.

James 1:12-13
Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.

2 Corinthians 9:6
But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, my heart races when I think of the heavenly rewards You have promised: seeing You, reunion with my loved ones, a life free of pain! Best of all is the thought of hearing You say, “Well done, good and faithful servant. Enter into the joys of the Lord.” May I not become weary in this work for I know that if I do not faint, I shall someday reap a harvest of reward. Move me, Lord, to faithfulness in these matters. Let me feel the needs of those around me and respond as I am able. Help me to never grow weary in this. For Your glory, Lord. Thank You for putting me on Your team! Amen.

Song:

Bringing in the Sheaves
Words: Knowles Shaw; Music: George A. Minor

  1. Sowing in the morning, sowing seeds of kindness,
    Sowing in the noontide and the dewy eve;
    Waiting for the harvest, and the time of reaping,
    We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves.

Refrain:
Bringing in the sheaves, bringing in the sheaves,
We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves;
Bringing in the sheaves, bringing in the sheaves,
We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves.

  1. Sowing in the sunshine, sowing in the shadows,
    Fearing neither clouds nor winter’s chilling breeze;
    By and by the harvest, and the labor ended,
    We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves.

Refrain

  1. Going forth with weeping, sowing for the Master,
    Tho’ the loss sustained our spirit often grieves;
    When our weeping’s over, He will bid us welcome,
    We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves.

Refrain

 

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About the Author

Full of passion for Jesus Christ, Stephen Phifer is a third-generation minister with more than three decades of experience as a pastoral artist, worship leader, and conductor.