“Do you have a Rewards Card?”

At the checkouts of some supermarket stores, you may be asked, “Do you have a rewards card” It’s interesting to note that there’s a system of rewards in our dealing with God. We don’t deserve it, we don’t merit it. Rewards exist purely because of the goodness and benevolence of the Almighty. There are rewards for earthly conduct. What we do while limited by time and age in this world matters in eternity. “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad” 2 Cor. 5:10. “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. “God blesses you who are hated and excluded and mocked and cursed because you are identified with me, the Son of Man. When that happens, rejoice! Yes, leap for joy! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were also treated that way by your ancestors” Luke 6:22-23. Rewards are not only received in heaven but are also given on the earth. They are both present and future. “For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come” 1 Timothy 4:8 (NKJV) “So Jesus answered and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel’s, who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time—houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions—and in the age to come, eternal life” Mark 10:29-31 (NKJV). Another important reward on this part of eternity is the fruit of the womb. Children are a reward from the Lord. “Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, The fruit of the womb is a reward” Psalms 127:3. God made getting rewards easy. There is the cup of water principle. “And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward” Matthew 10:42 A cup of water was one the easiest things you could do to another human being in those days. You didn’t have to be rich to extend such a generosity. The fact that such a simple act of kindness is rewarded suggests that God is very generous with his rewards and that everyone has an opportunity to be rewarded. There are 9 reward-generating actions: 1.Giving. Charity is one of the most important ways to get a reward from the Lord. You are rewarded on this earth for your acts of generosity. “But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly” Matthew 6:3-4. “He who has pity on the poor lends to the LORD, And He will pay back what he has given” Proverbs 19:17. You are also rewarded in heaven for your gifts to the needy. “Then he turned to his host. “When you put on a luncheon or a dinner,” he said, “don’t invite your friends, brothers, relatives, and rich neighbors. For they will repay you by inviting you back. Instead, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. Then at the resurrection of the godly, God will reward you for inviting those who could not repay you” Luke 14:12-14. 2. Seeking God. This is another opportunity to get rewards. God has promised to reward all those who seek him. Seek God and you are guaranteed to be rewarded. “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him” Hebrews 11:6. 3. Great work ethic. Our jobs, careers and businesses are another source of rewards. A believer in Jesus is not working for me but for the Lord who will reward him or her. “Slaves, you must obey your earthly masters. Show them great respect and be as loyal to them as you are to Christ. Try to please them at all times, and not just when you think they are watching. You are slaves of Christ, so with your whole heart you must do what God wants you to do. Gladly serve your masters, as though they were the Lord himself, and not simply people. You know that you will be rewarded for any good things you do, whether you are slaves or free” Ephesians 6:5-8. 4. Self-denial in His service. “Then Jesus said to his disciples: If any of you want to be my followers, you must forget about yourself. You must take up your cross and follow me. If you want to save your life, you will destroy it. But if you give up your life for me, you will find it. What will you gain, if you own the whole world but destroy yourself? What would you give to get back your soul? The Son of Man will soon come in the glory of his Father and with his angels to reward all people for what they have done” Matthew 16:24-27. 5. Serving God’s people. When we serve God’s servants, He promises to reward us. “He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward. And he who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward. And whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward” Matthew 10:41-42. Note that these rewards are generously shared between the simple giver and the mighty prophet. The Shunammite woman and the prophet. Mary, Martha and Jesus. You will share in the rewards of the important people in the kingdom when you help in the work of the ministry even with a cup of water. 6. Prayer. “But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly” Matthew 6:6. 7. Fasting. “But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly” Matthew 6:18 8. Be extraordinarily nice. “But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil” Luke 6:35. 9. Suffering for His name. “Blessed are you when men hate you, And when they exclude you, And revile you, and cast out your name as evil, For the Son of Man’s sake. Rejoice in that day and leap for joy! For indeed your reward is great in heaven, For in like manner their fathers did to the prophets” Luke 6:22-23. Crowns Apart from general rewards, the Bible also describes a system of rewards involving crowns. “I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown” Revelation 3:11. There are 4 Crowns. The Crown of Joy- For Winning Soul The Crown of Life – For Enduring Trials and Tribulations. The Crown of Righteousness – For Finishing our Ministry. The Crown of Glory – For Faithfulness in Ministry. Crown of Joy This crown is for those who win souls for Christ. "For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes? Is it not you? Indeed, you are our glory and joy” I Thessalonians 2:19-20. "Therefore, my brothers, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, that is how you should stand firm in the Lord, dear friends! " Phillipians 4:1. Crown of life This is a reward for those who are persecuted for righteousness sake. “Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him” James 1:12. “Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life” Revelation 2:10. Crown of righteousness This reward is for fulfilling one’s God-given ministry. “Paul says “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” 2 Timothy 4:7-8 (NLT). Crown of Glory This is an important rewards for all those who lead in the household of the Lord. “To the elders among you, Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, serving as overseers not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away" I Peter 5:1-4.

Don't be afraid of trouble

Saul was an untested man before he was made king by the people of Israel. He became king because he looked like one. In contrast, David was made king after he had been tested several times. He did not look like a king. He had not the 'presence' of a ruler. But he was a tried man, purified and molded through the furnace of affliction. When he had to challenge by a bear, he could easily have run home to his father, Jesse and say, 'Dad, I was almost killed today by a bear. This profession of shepherding is too dangerous. Try one of my older brothers. They are bigger than I am. May I be excused' He could have repeated the same mantra after a lion confronted him. He learnt not to quit in difficult times. He learnt not run away from problems, hoping they will disappear from inattention. We are to speak to mountains, not run scared of them. We are to command valleys, not weep in terror of them. We are to encourage ourselves with the testimonies from the past. Use previous victories to challenge the doubts of the present. The God who gave victory over the bear and the lion is the same yesterday, today and forever. He never changed. He never lost His power. David made some mistakes as a king but he accomplished much more than Saul because he had been tested before ascending the throne. Many of us want to be showcased by God as untested, pampered individuals but this often leads to fatal mistakes on exposure. David was unbeatable as a warrior because he had fought and won many small battles over several years before he became crowned. Rather than complain when things are not going the way we anticipated, be positive. Seek to be an overcomer. You don't become an overcomer with nothing to overcome. Even in your Garden of Eden, when everything is perfect and you are not in sin, you will be tested. As an unknown person doing menial jobs, you will be challenged. The only way to get to the mountain top is to climb it, not ignore or run from it. It is often lonely at the top because few get there. It takes boldness and an unshakable belief that the God we serve never fails. If He sent Jesus to die for you, He won't abandon you. He promises, "I will never leave you nor forsake you. So that we may boldly say, ‘The Lord is my Helper, I will not fear what man shall do unto me" Hebrews 13:5-6. It is when times are hard that we get to practice habits and attitudes that develop our character and make us look like our Heavenly Father. You cannot hope to defeat goliaths when you whine and complain about the lion and the bear; smaller obstacles allowed by God to train and prepare us. Tough times never last but the character development does. No tests, no testimonies. No trials, no triumphs. You are who you are today because of all the previous battles you have fought, won and lost. "Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him......." Job 13:15. Our Lord passed the same process. The Captain of our salvation was made perfect through suffering. Hebrews 2:10. Apostle Paul faced hard times from enemies within and without. You may problems from both true and false brethren: "I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers" (2 Corinthians 11:26 NIV). Difficulties are often opportunities in disguise. Challenges may be potential sources of miracles. Trials and tests are the necessary ingredients of testimonies. Light comes after shadow. Weeping at night precedes morning joy. There is light at the end of the tunnel but you have to go through the dark hollow to enjoy the brightness. There is a reason stars don't shine during the day but at night. "Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you. See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the Lord rises upon you and his glory appears over you. (Isaiah 60:1, 2 NIV) Don't be afraid of the dark. You have victory over it because the Lord your God is with you. "Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me" (Psalm 23:4 NIV) The song, "Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine" was written by a blind lady called Fanny Cosby. Joseph Scriven lost his fiancée to accidental drowning the night before their wedding. Tragedy came the second time when he fell in love again and his bride to be died of tuberculosis before their wedding could take place. That is the background to the beautiful song, "What a friend we have in Jesus" Depth often comes from people who have been to the depths of despair and overcame. There is a song in our lives that can only be written in the crucible of trouble. The best counselors are not theorists but those who bear the scars from many battles and are still standing. Scars serve three purposes: scare away the enemy, provide experience to deal with new challenges and make us competent counselors to those who are going through their shadow of death. A Chicago lawyer, Horatio G. Spafford lost his only son to scarlet fever at age four. A year later, it was fire rather than fever that struck. Horatio had invested heavily in real estate on the shores of Lake Michigan. In 1871, every one of these holdings was wiped out by the great Chicago Fire. Aware of the toll that these disasters had taken on the family, Horatio decided to take his wife and four daughters on a holiday to England. And, not only did they need the rest -- DL Moody needed the help. He was traveling around Britain on one of his great evangelistic campaigns. Horatio and Anna planned to join Moody in late 1873. And so, the Spaffords traveled to New York in November, from where they were to catch the French steamer 'Ville de Havre' across the Atlantic. Yet just before they set sail, a last-minute business development forced Horatio to stay behind. Spafford persuaded his family to go as planned. Anna and her four daughters sailed East to Europe while Spafford returned West to Chicago. Just nine days later, Spafford received a telegram from his wife in Wales. It read: "Saved alone." On November 2nd 1873, the 'Ville de Havre' had collided with 'The Lochearn', an English vessel. It sank in only 12 minutes, claiming the lives of 226 people. Anna Spafford had stood bravely on the deck, with her daughters Annie, Maggie, Bessie and Tanetta clinging desperately to her. Her last memory had been of her baby being torn violently from her arms by the force of the waters. Anna was only saved from the fate of her daughters by a plank which floated beneath her unconscious body and propped her up. When the survivors of the wreck had been rescued, Mrs. Spafford's first reaction was one of complete despair. Then she heard a voice speak to her, "You were spared for a purpose." And she immediately recalled the words of a friend, "It's easy to be grateful and good when you have so much, but take care that you are not a fair-weather friend to God." Upon hearing the terrible news, Horatio Spafford boarded the next ship out of New York to join his bereaved wife. Bertha Spafford (the fifth daughter of Horatio and Anna born later) explained that during her father's voyage, the captain of the ship had called him to the bridge. "A careful reckoning has been made", he said, "and I believe we are now passing the place where the de Havre was wrecked. The water is three miles deep." Horatio then returned to his cabin and penned the lyrics of his great hymn. The words which Spafford wrote that day come from 2 Kings 4:26. They echo the response of the Shunammite woman to the sudden death of her only child. Though we are told "her soul is vexed within her", she still maintains that 'It is well" No matter what circumstances overtake us may we be able to say with Horatio Spafford... When peace like a river, attendeth my way, When sorrows like sea billows roll; Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say, It is well, it is well with my soul. Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come, Let this blest assurance control, That Christ hath regarded my helpless estate, And hath shed His own blood for my soul! It is well ... with my soul! It is well, it is well, with my soul.