Reward Offered!

"But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." (Hebrews 11: 6 KJV)

"Rewards" are "inducements," or motives or considerations that lead one to action or to greater action. It is a means of prompting or provoking obedience and conformity to the will or law of another. Rewards are also known as positive reinforcements of behavior. There are of course, both positive and negative rewards, inducements, or reinforcements of behavior. There are rewards that are punishments and designed to prevent ill or illegal behavior. There are rewards, on the other hand, that are benefits for good behavior.

A person of "faith" is a person, according to the apostle, who believes that God IS, that he has a being and exists, and that he is also a "Rewarder" of those who do good, who seek him. Those who believe in God believe that he blesses and favors those who love, obey, and seek him. If they did not, what motive, consideration, or or inducement would they have for doing good and seeking God?

Men offer "rewards" in many areas of life. There are rewards offered for information regarding crimes and missing persons. There are rewards offered by parents and employers. Generally, in modern times, "reward" is generally viewed as a positive thing. People do not generally think of negative rewards, or rewards as punishments.

"After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward." (Genesis 15: 1 KJV)

Not only is Lord God a rewarder and blesser of those who do good, who obey his laws and seek his face, but he himself is the "reward" of his people. To have God as a Father, benefactor, and friend, is truly to have the Reward of rewards. To have God is to have the highest reward and blessing. It is to have him as one's "shield" and defence, and to be completely and absolutely safe.

"Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the LORD shall be thy reward." (Isaiah 58: 8 KJV)

The "glory" of God shall be the "reward" of the children of God. They will inherit all that God has to offer his people. They will inherit all things. To have God is to have everything. Seeking the things of God cannot be separated from seeking God himself.

"The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward." (Psalm 19: 7-11 KJV)

There are indeed great positive rewards in serving the Lord! It is good and beneficial for men to do so! Men are much better off for seeking and obtaining these "rewards" that God has promised. The "rewards" promised to the followers of the Lord are compared to the greatest treasures of earth and found wanting.

"He brought me forth also into a large place; he delivered me, because he delighted in me. The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me. For I have kept the ways of the LORD, and have not wickedly departed from my God." (Psalm 18: 19-21 KJV)

"He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities." (Psalm 103: 10 KJV)

These verses, though seeming to contradict each other, really do not. If God deals with men according to strictly what they deserve, by the standard of his law, they cannot expect to find eternal blessings with God. On the other hand, God in the exercise of his ongoing providence and government of the world, does regularly see to it that men generally get what they deserve, even in this life.

"For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness." (Romans 4: 3-5 KJV)

Notice how Paul speaks of two kinds of "reward." He speaks of the reward that is "reckoned of grace" in contrast to that kind of reward that is "reckoned of debt." In these words, the "reward" is salvation, righteousness under the law (or justification under it) or God himself. We do not gain God and salvation by human efforts, and so it nor God is are "prizes" or "rewards" in that sense. Men do not earn or merit God. The "reward" of the righteous is not a matter of debt, or of what is earned, but is what is given graciously and undeservedly.

Christians, fundamentally speaking, on "rewarded" vicariously, for the sake of another, for the sake or worth of Christ "reckoned" to them, or "credited" to them graciously. In other words, for instance, God graciously gives love, faith, and hope, and then rewards those who have those gifts for having them. In this way all human "boasting" is eliminated and God alone is to be credited, praised, and thanked for the obtaining of the reward.

God's promise is that to "him that soweth righteousness (there) shall be a sure reward." (Proverbs 11: 18 KJV)

But, who can sow righteousness without God and his grace? Still, God gives forth the incentive and inducement for men to obey him and to live a life that is well pleasing in his sight. All good works done in the name of Christ and for the glory of God will be faithfully rewarded by God. Every man may depend upon this sure word of God.

"So shall the knowledge of wisdom be unto thy soul: when thou hast found it, then there shall be a reward, and thy expectation shall not be cut off." (Proverbs 24: 14 KJV)

Wisdom and knowledge of God and truth are here declared to be a reward. It is not simply a means to obtaining reward, but are rewards themselves. When one "finds" or obtains divine wisdom and knowledge, he also obtains God himself, and every good thing.

"If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink: For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the LORD shall reward thee." (Proverbs 25: 21, 22 KJV)

Again, the fact that God has promised to bless and reward certain individuals and certain kinds of behavior, acts, or should act, as an inducement to live godly and in conformity with the will of God. It takes "faith"to believe God however, to believe he will do what he said he would do.

"The great God that formed all things both rewardeth the fool, and rewardeth transgressors." (Proverbs 26: 10 KJV)

"Say ye to the righteous, that it shall be well with him: for they shall eat the fruit of their doings. Woe unto the wicked! it shall be ill with him: for the reward of his hands shall be given him." (Isaiah 3: 10, 11 KJV)

God rewards both the righteous and the wicked. He positively rewards with salvation those to whom he is pleased to give grace and faith, but he negatively rewards those who stubbornly refuse his offers of mercy, and grace, and his offered rewards, precious rewards that are given for the sake of Christ, and from grace.

"Behold, the Lord GOD will come with strong hand, and his arm shall rule for him: behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him." (Isaiah 40: 10 KJV)

"Behold, the LORD hath proclaimed unto the end of the world, Say ye to the daughter of Zion, Behold, thy salvation cometh; behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him." (Isaiah 62: 11 KJV)

"For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works." (Matthew 16: 27 KJV)

"And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be." (Revelation 22: 12 KJV)

"I will punish them for their ways, and reward them their doings." (Hosea 4: 9 KJV)

The return of Christ will be the time when he will "sit upon his throne" and will then "judge" all. Christ is the "Judge who stands before the door." (James 5:9) When he returns, he will give the full reward promised to his people, for they will have God himself as their everlasting possession. On the other hand, he will measure out the evil rewards, the punishments due to those who have sinned and have no legal justification. At the great Day of Judgement, God will open the book of the law and then "every transgression and disobedience (will have) received a just recompence of reward." (Hebrews 2: 2 KJV)

"He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward. And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward." (Matthew 10: 41, 42 KJV)

"And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ." (Colossians 3: 23, 24 KJV)

To have assurance of this promised eternal reward of rewards, all one has to do is to live for Christ, to acknowledge his titles, and to welcome him and his messengers who bring the message of his person and work. To receive Christ is to receive the reward of Christ, just as to receive the prophet is to receive the prophet's reward.

"Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward." (Hebrews 10: 35 KJV)

The faith, confidence, and assurance that we have, as believers in God, and in the fact that he is a Rewarder of those who love and seek him, has "great reward," both now and forever.

"Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward. By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible." (Hebrews 11: 25-27 KJV)

It was because Moses believed that God was a "rewarder" of good things to those who seek and serve him that he properly "chose" and "esteemed" things, choosing to serve Christ rather than sin, and esteeming or valuing service to him, and the rewards he offers, to be superior to any rewards or payment men or sin could offer. He also "endured" because of this faith in God as a "Rewarder."

"Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward." (II John 1: 8 KJV)

"And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth." (Revelation 11: 18 KJV)

Friend, to be included in this company of blessed persons who are to be eternally "rewarded" with infinite good, to receive the "rewards" promised to the "servants," and "prophets," and "righteous" men of God, all one has to do is to welcome (receive) them and their message! To receive all the rewards promised to Christ all one has to do is to receive Christ.