44 I tell you the truth, he will put him in charge of all his possessions.
Just as surely as there are always consequences to sin (every sin carries with it a death sentence) there are always blessings to obedience. In our verse for today Jesus speaks of the rewards of the faithful. Scripture has many illustrations regarding rewards in the here and now and also our future eternal rewards. While certainly not an exhaustive list, below are some verses from Scripture which perhaps will be a source of encouragement and blessing to us today:
Just as God told Abram (Abraham) - God is our shield and our very great reward: 1 After this, the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision: "Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward. " Gen 15:1 (NIV). This speaks to the total sufficiency and strength our Creator is to be in our lives. His grace and power are sufficient to meet our every need.
David tells us in the Psalm 19 that in keeping God’s Word there is also great reward: 11 By them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward. Psalms 19:11 (NIV). We do ourselves much harm when we disregard God’s Word.
We are told in Proverbs that our wisdom will reward us: 12 If you are wise, your wisdom will reward you; Prov 9:12 (NIV). This, of course, is Godly wisdom or “wisdom from above”.
We are also told in Proverbs that sowing righteousness reaps reward – rewards that are both beneficial and lasting: he who sows righteousness reaps a sure reward. Prov 11:18 (NIV). The righteous, as we know, will live by faith.
In responding to our enemies with kindness, the Lord will reward us: 21 If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; if he is thirsty, give him water to drink. 22 In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head, and the LORD will reward you. Prov 25:21-22 (NIV). We are told to repay evil with good.
Isaiah tells us that when Jesus returns He will be bringing His reward with Him: 10 See, the Sovereign LORD comes with power, and his arm rules for him. See, his reward is with him, and his recompense accompanies him. Isaiah 40:10 (NIV). His reward and recompense is greater than any paste gem idol this world has to offer.
Jeremiah tells us that God searches our hearts and examines our minds and rewards us according to our conduct: 10 "I the LORD search the heart and examine the mind, to reward a man according to his conduct, according to what his deeds deserve." Jer 17:10 (NIV). It matters how we live.
Again, Jeremiah states the following regarding rewards for our conduct: 19 great are your purposes and mighty are your deeds. Your eyes are open to all the ways of men; you reward everyone according to his conduct and as his deeds deserve. Jer 32:19 (NIV). We are to “walk in a manner worthy of the gospel”.
The New Testament has plenty to say regarding rewards too. Below are a few verses to whet our appetites:
Jesus tells us our persecution for His sake will bring us great reward: 11 "Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. Matt 5:11-12 (NIV). This is persecution we receive because of Jesus.
Jesus also tells us that we will be rewarded according to our actions: 27 For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father's glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done. Matt 16:27 (NIV). It will make a difference how we build on the foundation of Christ.
Jesus speaks of loving our enemies which in turn brings us reward: 35 But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. 36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. Luke 6:34-36 (NIV). We are to live a life of loving and serving.
Paul echoes the same sentiment in Ephesians: 7 Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men, 8 because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free. Eph 6:7-8 (NIV). Our good deeds do not go unnoticed.
Lastly, the writer of Hebrews gives us the example in the life of Moses to follow in regard to his faith and upon what and Whom his focus was fixed: 24 By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh's daughter. 25 He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time. 26 He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward. Heb 11:24-26 (NIV). What do we value? What takes top priority in our lives?
God knows how we are made (He made us for heaven’s sake!). While oftentimes this life is not “fair”, our “jelly bean” so to speak, our hope in the horizon, is in the God who has promised that one day every wrong will be righted, every good deed will be brought to light and rewarded, and every slight or persecution will be judged justly. God is fair and God is not whimsical and God does not change and God is loving. We can strike that from our list of concerns. Believer, be blessed and encouraged by these truths!
12 "Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done. Rev 22:12 (NIV)