Title: The Steward's Eternal Reward
Contents
Title: The Steward's Eternal Reward Text: 1 Corinthians 3:12-15
Introduction] The saints are stewards who manage the things God has entrusted to them. And you have to realize that it has to do with eternity. If our life on earth has nothing to do with eternity, then there is no need to strive to be loyal stewards.
1. Correlation between beliefs and actions
Does God care only about our beliefs and not our actions? Of course, it is our beliefs that determine where we will spend eternity in Heaven or Hell. However, how sincere our beliefs are is shown by our actions. For good deeds the Lord will fervently commend. The Bible says that both the unbeliever and the believer will be judged. “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive according to what he has done in the body, whether good or bad” (2 Corinthians 5:10). All believers in Jesus will have an account of their lives before the Lord. God's holy fire will measure the quality of what we do, and how important it is in eternity to what we have done with the resources and opportunities God has entrusted to us.
2. The motive of eternal reward
If any of us say, “All you have to do is go to heaven,” it is either out of ignorance or pride. Receiving a reward from Jesus is an eternal blessing that cannot be expressed in words. The Bible clearly teaches that we are not transformed by the same beings, the same possessions, the same responsibilities, and the same powers in heaven. Every effective manager or wise leader knows the importance of rewards. Incentives will be given in personal, social, spiritual, physical or economic form. But too many Christians think of rewards as ‘worldly’, ‘carnal’, and ‘non-spiritual’. The greatest model motivated by the superior is Christ Himself. Jesus said, “He endured the cross for the joy that was set before him” (Hebrews 12:2). Because he knew he would be honored in the end, he endured it with obedience and humility.
3. The God Who Promised Reward
It is God Himself designed to reward all of us so that we can do our job well. We should be willing to serve Him with a joyful heart, even if there is no reward on our part (Luke 17:10). But reward is God's idea, not ours. Who are we, who dare to ignore this and say, “I don't care what God rewards me with”? This attitude is arrogant and blasphemy. The truth is that we must do the same because God wants us to. Jesus clearly taught that we will be rewarded for our good works. “The Son of Man comes with his angels in the glory of the Father, and at that time will he repay each one according to what he has done” (Matthew 16:27).
Conclusion] Why does God reward the saints? Because He delights in the obedience of His children. God has chosen to give eternal rewards to His children as a sign of His approval. Ultimately, “whether in body or absent, we must strive to be pleasing to the Lord” (2 Corinthians 5:9). To please a loved one is itself the greatest reward.