Teasure Principle - Reward?

By Pastor Christian on 5/18/09

Today we kicked off a three-week series based on the Book “Treasure Principle” by Randy Alcorn. At three weeks, we are hoping that every person who calls Canyon Creek their church home will be able to attend the entire series. If you missed this Sunday or simply want to review, please visit our podcast page and click “Treasure Principle.”

By far, the single most pressing question following the services yesterday was, “Is there really a reward in heaven beyond just being in Heaven and Jesus? My unequivocal answer remains “yes.” BUT, I like the gut reaction. That reaction tells me the person asking is pursuing Jesus for Jesus sake and not reward. That is the beginning of wisdom and the correct reply. God owes us no reward. . .

But, the Bible is just real clear on this, the faithful ARE rewarded for their lives. All the redeemed get Jesus. All the redeemed get 100% of God’s love and grace. All the redeemed are delighted with HEAVEN! There is no jealously. Rewards are mutually celebrated. Heaven and Jesus AREthe great reward. BUT once again, good work and sacrifice ARE REWARDED. Our lives in heaven will be determined by the choices, sacrifices, and actions of earth.

So as to not preach my entire message again (I can feel the blood rising :) I am just going to include some more scripture for your reflection. Read these and whatever else you find, see if you don’t discover that future reward is a healthy and encouraged addition to your motive for transformation. Then speak-up. Disagree, comment, and think out loud. Conversation, even loving debate is the privilege of the Church.

Genesis 15:1: After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision: “Fear not, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.”

Ruth 2:12: The LORD will repay you for what you have done, and a full reward be given you by the LORD, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge!”

1 Samuel 24:19: For if a man finds his enemy, will he let him go away safe? So may the LORD reward you with good for what you have done to me this day.

2 Chronicles 15:7: But you, take courage! Do not let your hands be weak, for your work shall be rewarded.”

Psalm 58:11: Mankind will say, “Surely there is a reward for the righteous; surely there is a God who judges on earth.”

Proverbs 13:13: Whoever despises the word brings destruction on himself, but he who reveres the commandment will be rewarded.

Proverbs 22:4: The reward for humility and fear of the LORD is riches and honor and life.

Proverbs 25:22: for you will heap burning coals on his head, and the LORD will reward you.

Isaiah 40:10: Behold, the Lord GOD comes with might, and his arm rules for him; behold, his reward is with him, and his recompense before him.

Jeremiah 31:16: Thus says the LORD: “Keep your voice from weeping, and your eyes from tears, for there is a reward for your work, declares the LORD,

Matthew 5:12: JESUS: Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Matthew 6:1-4: JESUS: Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. “Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

Matthew 10:42: JESUS: And whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward.”

Mark 10:21: JESUS: Looking at him, Jesus felt a love for him and said to him, “One thing you lack: go and sell all you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”

Luke 6:23:  JESUS: Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven!

Luke 12:33: JESUS: Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys.  See Matt. 19:21 our anchor verse.

Luke 18:22: When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” {Acts 2:45; 4:34, 35; 1 Tim. 6:18, 19]

Luke 19:14-19: JESUS:  “But his citizens hated him and sent a delegation after him, saying, ‘We do not want this man to reign over us.’ “When he returned, after receiving the kingdom, he ordered that these slaves, to whom he had given the money, be called to him so that he might know what business they had done. “The first appeared, saying, ‘Master, your mina has made ten minas more.’ “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.’ “The second came, saying, ‘Your mina, master, has made five minas.’ And he said to him also, ‘And you are to be over five cities.’ “Another came, saying, ‘Master, here is your mina, which I kept put away in a handkerchief; for I was afraid of you, because you are an exacting man; you take up what you did not lay down and reap what you did not sow.’  “He said to him, ‘By your own words I will judge you, you worthless slave. Did you know that I am an exacting man, taking up what I did not lay down and reaping what I did not sow? ‘Then why did you not put my money in the bank, and having come, I would have collected it with interest?’ “Then he said to the bystanders, ‘Take the mina away from him and give it to the one who has the ten minas.’ “And they said to him, ‘Master, he has ten minas already.’ 26 “I tell you that to everyone who has, more shall be given, but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away.

1 Cor. 3:9-15 describes that God will test our works by the fire of motive. If we did things in His strength and for His glory, they will pass through the refining fire and emerge as gold, silver and costly stones. If we did things in our own flesh and for our glory or for the earthly payoff, we will have gotten all our strokes on earth, and the works will be burned up, not making it through the testing “fire.”

I Cor 9:24: Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it.

2 Cor. 5:10: For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.

Hebrews 11:26: He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward.

I Tim 6:18-19: They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.

2 John 8: Watch yourselves, so that you may not lose what we have worked for, but may win a full reward.

Rev. 2:10 refers to the “crown of life.” 2 Tim. 4:7-8 refers to the “crown of righteousness.” Crowns symbolize dominion and authority over people

Rev. 2:26—“He who overcomes, and he who keeps My deeds until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations, and he shall rule them with a rod of iron.”

Revelation 11:18: The nations raged, but your wrath came, and the time for the dead to be judged, and for rewarding your servants,”

Revelation 22:12: “Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my reward with me, to repay everyone for what he has done.

Peace,

Christian

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