The Goal is Whole: Hope Unshakeable H4: Rewards

H4 Headline

“No man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if any man builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 13 each man’s work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man’s work. 14 If any man’s work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward. 15 If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.”

(1 Corinthians 3:11-15)

Our study today will probably change your life, and your lifestyle! Eternity is vast and never-ending, and we have before us the opportunity to adopt a lifestyle that will allow us to enjoy rewards for ever, simply because of how we live for this short time here. In other words, the way we live now will affect our experience of eternity.

In the new creation, we all start with the same foundation, which is Christ Himself. It then depends on what we build, the works we do, and how we develop in the new creation.

FULL STUDY:

In the new creation, we all start with the same foundation, which is Christ Himself. It then depends on what we build, the works we do, and how we develop in the new creation.

For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:8-10).

No-one is saved by works. No-one can earn their way into the new creation, or the favor of God. We all receive salvation and enter the new creation by grace, through faith, and it is all a gift from God. However this is our introduction into God’s workmanship, which has been created for good works that have been prepared beforehand. The works that gain merit are outworked expressions of the fullness of Christ. We are to be co-workers with Him.

“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, 12 instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, 13 looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, 14 who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.” (Titus 2:11-14)

Notice exactly the same pattern, it begins with grace, opening up salvation, where we take our place in His people, zealous for good deeds (works).

“For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith. 4 For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function, 5 so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. 6 Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly…” (Romans 12:3-6)

In Christ, we are all given a measure of faith with which to work, but this is outworked through different gifts and functions. Being fruitful and living the kind of life God rewards is about discerning His will, and doing it. Finding our place, and walking it out. Note that this is in the context of the body. Very little in the new creation life goes very far on our own. We are called to fit in, partner with others, and be the part we are called to be. Together, as a body, in community, we much more fully represent Christ to the world, and one another. We will look much more at that in units 4 and 5.

We will be rewarded for all the works we are re-created to do in the new creation – those that we align with, and outwork. This is not a fixed destiny, where everything is pre-planned and we become mere robots. On the contrary, it is a co-working with Christ on a living basis, open to His leading and prompts, just as He was in His walk with Father. He and the Father were so aligned that He was able to say to Philip, “He who has seen Me has seen the Father.” (John 14:9).

In some measure at least, our lives should be such that we can say, “He who has seen me has seen Jesus”.

Notice how specific Jesus was about this, saying:

“The words that I say to you I do not speak on My own initiative, but the Father abiding in Me does His works. 11 Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me; otherwise believe because of the works themselves.” (John 14:10-11)

For Jesus, it was the Father outworking His works from within, and this is the way it works for us too. As we engage with Christ within us, and constantly look to Him to manifest Himself in us and through us, we will find ourselves outworking what He has made us to be, and what He is doing in us and through us.

So, let us look at some passages that reveal what kind of works will get rewarded in eternity. This comes with a warning:

Most of these actions will cost something, and are much diminished or eradicated in terms of rewards if we seek recognition for our actions in this life. It is temporal reward, OR eternal (heavenly) reward, rarely both. Getting the attention of man and trying to impress is a sure way to have already “received our reward in full” (e.g. Matthew 6:5).

The most important revelation is probably in Hebrews 11:6, because this will affect our entire walk with God. This is what it says,

“And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.”

He is a rewarder of those who seek Him! A life that seeks after God Himself, not just His gifts, or power, or provision, or even after His rewards. But seeking after Him. This is a heart condition that God values highly.

Here are some passages that identify specific lifestyle attributes that will be rewarded. There are doubtless other manifestations of our co-working with Jesus that will be rewarded, but this is a good start-point!

Personal prayer: “But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward” (Matthew 6:6).
Fasting secretively: “But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face 18 so that your fasting will not be noticed by men, but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward” (Matthew 6:17).
Doing work as an act of serving Christ: “Slaves, in all things obey those who are your masters on earth, not with external service, as those who merely please men, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. 23 Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve.” (Colossians 3:22-24).
Serving Christ through self-denial: “Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. 25 For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. 26 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? 27 For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and will then repay every man according to his deeds.” (Matthew 16:24-27).
Receiving others willingly: “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.” (Matthew 10:41).
Giving water to someone who needs it: “And whoever in the name of a disciple gives to one of these little ones even a cup of cold water to drink, truly I say to you, he shall not lose his reward.” (Matthew 10:42).
Enduring persecution in His name: “Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great.” (Matthew 5:11-12).
Showing mercy and giving, expecting nothing in return: “But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men. 36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful”. (Luke 6:35-36).
Give to the poor secretively: “So when you give to the poor, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be honored by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. 3 But when you give to the poor, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving will be in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward” (Matthew 6:2-4).
Exercising good stewardship: “The first appeared, saying, ‘Master, your mina has made ten minas more.’ 17 And he said to him, ‘Well done, good slave, because you have been faithful in a very little thing, you are to be in authority over ten cities.” (Luke 19:16-17).