All of us understand the importance and significance of affirmation. Affirmation has even been tagged as one of the five primary ‘love’ languages. In Jesus’ day the Pharisees delighted in the affirmation of those around them. They lived for the purpose of showing off their level of goodness. Jesus reminded them their performance driven lifestyle would result in their receiving their rewards on earth. In other words if we live for the praise of others, their praise will be our reward. In our ‘me’ driven times, we need to remember we have a higher calling.
We can erroneously serve God for the purpose of seeking rewards. Jesus promised rewards for those who suffer for Christ (Matthew 5:12), who give a cup of cold water in His name (Matthew 10:42), and for those ministering in the name of Christ. (Matthew 25:31-41) Strangely enough the people mentioned in Matthew 25 were not even aware of the acts of kindness they had done for those in need. Obviously they were committed to serving others, not seeking rewards. We are not to live for Christ to be rewarded. We are to live for Christ to honor Him and express our gratitude.
We can have misconceptions concerning the nature of God’s rewards. In our land prosperity preaching is still popular. Our primary reason for giving cannot be to receive something in return. God has promised He will meet all of our needs according to His riches in glory. The greatest blessings are not material. Good health, the love of family, dependable friends, the joy of assisting others, and being part of the powerful working of the Holy Spirit are rewards that are impossible to measure their worth. It is the memory of changed lives that warm our hearts and make our service more exciting.
We can know if we serve God with pure motives, He will reward us with contentment, compounded responsibility, and a clearer vision of His will. When we are in the center of God’s will, contentment is ours. The peace and joy that flood our hearts are amazing. The sense of serenity and calm controlling us provides a stabilizing influence. When we serve the Lord faithfully, He gives us more to do. Even in the parable of the talents Jesus gave the man who had the most talents the extra talent not used. Being given additional responsibility in God’s kingdom is not a bad thing. The final reward is a clearer insight into God’s will. When sin is diminished in our lives because we are busy serving Christ, we are better able to see God’s plan develop. It is a special treat to be part of God’s unfolding plan and watch Him work out His will.