Unexpected Rewards

Graduating High School is a big accomplishment. Some graduates receive new cars, vacations and other expensive items as a reward for graduating. One of my friends from school received a book (it was a good one but I don’t remember which one…maybe a BIBLE?) for his graduation, yet he wanted this new car he had seen at a car lot. Upset, he threw the book down and stormed out of the house. Upset with the gift, he didn’t visit or talk to his family for years.

Last year his father passed away. At the funeral, his Mom handed him the book his father had gotten him for his graduation. In tears, he opened the book. On the very first page was a signed blank check. The inscription of the front page read, “Congratulations son, I’m so proud of you! Take this check and buy the vehicle of your choice…Dad.”

Matthew 7:11, "And if ye, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your Heavenly Father which is in heaven, give to those who ask Him?"

I don’t get it, what’s with REWARDS anyways?

When I do things with the motivation of getting noticed by others then that’s all the reward I get. When I do things for God, with the right motivation of genuine love for Him and others, then I am rewarded by God immediately, and others see just how great God is, not me.

Matthew 6:2-6 “When you give to someone in need, don’t do as the hypocrites do—blowing trumpets in the synagogues and streets to call attention to their acts of charity! I tell you the truth; they have received all the reward they will ever get. But when you give to someone in need, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing. Give your gifts in private, and your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.”

WOW!!! Did you just read that…? I don’t think we need to sit here and try to interpret what he’s saying here. It’s pretty plain. He’s not talking about rewards in heaven like mansions when we die, but some kind of IMMEDIATE REWARDS! Could be in terms of growth in our life and a sense of having made a difference in the world as well as a great witness to others concerning Christ. Isn’t that a great reward too?

Rewards in heaven are great, but I’m human and sometimes I desire a little reward here too. Maybe that’s just me. I have to constantly remind myself though, it’s not about me. To God goes the glory!

Proverbs 25:27 “It’s not good to eat too much honey, and it’s not good to seek honors for yourself.”

Exalting yourself seems to be the same kind of motivation that Satan had. Doing things for God JUST to get rewards isn’t right either. I’d rather do things knowing that is what God calls me to do. Because I love Him! Not because I’m trying to earn His approval.

When my son cleans his room without me asking; when he keeps his bike locked up without me reminding him; and when he tells me he loves me without me having to say it first. Is he doing it for rewards from Daddy? Well, sometimes. But he also understands that as my son, he has responsibilities in being a son of Paul. Just like we have responsibilities in being sons and daughters of God.

2 Timothy 4:7-8 - “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful. And now the prize awaits me—the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on the day of His return. And the prize is not just for me but for all who eagerly look forward to His appearing.”

Now I have never physically run a race, that’s not something Paul calls fun. But when you are running a race or competing in a competition or sport, when do you receive your reward. In the beginning; during; or at the end? When you finish the race, who rejoices with you? Family, friends and people you may have just met.

It seems to me that when we serve God with the right motivation, even though we do it quietly and not openly, then God rewards us openly and others see that God has blessed us. This becomes a great witness to others here and now.

God grants us rewards on earth and in heaven…but in my eyes, we have already been given the greatest reward.

Eternal Life!

Team: Small Group

On a Professional football team, you have many different personnel. You have the coaches, players on down to the water boy... er…person. So let me ask you a question, who’s the most important on the team? Better yet, if you had to give a percentage on who actually wins the game, how would you rate it?

Is the Coach more important? How about the Quarterback, he does call the plays and hand off/throw the ball….isn’t he more important? How about the guy that drives the bus and gets the team to the game, he’s pretty important to, right? I mean without him, they’d never get to the game to win or lose.

The answer is they are all important members of the Team, every single one of them. Most of you already knew this but the point I bring to you today is, Small Groups within our Church work much the same way. To have a successful small group, it must be a “Small Group Team”. Everyone with that group is like a football team…they are all important to the win.

Many Christians today prefer not to be a part of the team. They say, “I’m just not a team player.” Too often we prefer to be lone rangers in order to avoid differing opinions and conflict, to avoid people who want to be self-important and prideful, to not have to deal with people who seem to know it all and are insensitive toward others on the team. We may feel ignored or unappreciated.

Hebrews 10:23 Let us hold fast to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another-- and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

Spurring on others in love is a team effort, everybody must work to win! Spurring is stirring up the love and passion within our brothers and sisters in Christ. How do we stir each other up to radical acts of love? That can only happen in the context of small group teams. God brings about radical acts of love by stirring each other up. We need passionate people to stir up passion in others. This is called, Team work!

It will only happen as we gather in small group teams. That is why God is calling us to these teams…togetherness. You cannot and will not overcome the deceitfulness and the attractiveness of sin in your life alone. You cannot and will not thrive spiritually alone. You are not thriving if you are not in some kind of small group team.

Imagine what kind of love and good deeds God could stir up if we took this seriously. Imagine what hidden sins, bondage, struggles, habits, hang ups, hardships God could deliver us from if we took this call to teamwork seriously. Imagine what God could do if we were in a small group team that loved us, cared for us, carried our burdens, pastored us, and committed to care for us.

How can we pray for one another if we are not on a team?

Some of us see these teams and relationships negatively because we do not see ourselves as soldiers in war. We see ourselves as vacationers just sightseeing. We do not have the appetite for spiritual passion as the norm because we settle for what we see instead of expecting, wanting, desiring more.

God is calling us to be supportive. This is where love comes in. It means having a heart to lighten people loads as we get to know them.

So I ask you again, are you on a Small Group Team?

If you aren’t, how’s the self-sufficiency thing working for you?