Good morning people of God,
I've been thinking about "reward" lately as it pertains to a quote I read recently and I want to get your opinion. I have been meditating on it because I sense the Holy Spirit in it and I want to gain any insight I can. It's by a man named Art Katz and it says:
"Salvation is a gift of God by grace, but what we do with the grace, having obtained it as a gift, determines our eternal reward. Works is only a bad thing when we think that we can labor for our salvation."
The main word used for reward in the New Testament is the word mis-thos and it literally means payment due for labor. Jesus uses it in Matthew 5:12 when talking about our reward in heaven in the context of standing up under false accusation and persecution. Paul uses it in 1 Corinthians 3:14 when talking about the reward someone will receive if what they have built survives the testing of the fire on "the Day." Neither Paul nor Jesus are talking about working for the reward of salvation, but about the mis-thos to be received for the work done while in the earth. This brings me to my wonderings.
Is it possible that we as believers are missing out on something because we don't like to teach on and live for the eternal reward? Yes, we believe in heaven in the after-life and teach on it to some extent but are we amiss by not teaching what the scriptures teach about in eternal reward? It feels to me like teaching on that reward may be a wonderful tool for helping us go through trials and temptations. It may also be a tool to help us avoid the toxic nature of praise from men and our need for it. If we have our eyes focused on the reward we are storing up for ourselves in heaven because of our work down on the earth, we can work for years without recognition, we can endure the worst of persecution and trials, and we can learn to sincerely enjoy being the "chief of servants" because we know we are storing up great riches for ourselves in eternity.
I'm starting to believe the enemy has tempted us to avoid talking about "reward" because of the possibility of "works righteousness" getting involved. We are right to want to avoid works righteousness, but not at the cost of avoiding a teaching Jesus taught on. Salvation is a free gift from God. But reward by its very definition is about payment for wages, so Jesus, Paul and the other writers of the New Testament couldn't have been talking about reward for salvation because salvation is free. If Jesus said your reward could be great, then it could also be little. We don't ever want to slide into working for our salvation, but I think we're missing something by avoiding talking about works except only in a negative way. I think it is okay to want to receive a great reward. We don't receive it in the same way the world does but wanting greatness in the kingdom of God is not a bad thing.
One thing is certain, we are going to be judged and rewarded in some manner. Wouldn't it be nice to have thought about and acted on it before "the Day?"
Love you all
N8
