Thought for Friday, June 29th

June 29, 2012

Do You Feel Rewarded

Rewards are often sought after, sometimes given unsolicited: but more often than not, most feel they are unnecessarily withheld.

Often with our children, when we want them to do certain things or accomplish certain goals we will dangle a reward for successful achievement before them, in the hopes that we will inspire and encourage them towards the success we hope for them to achieve.

Spiritually speaking, do you think God ever uses the rewards system for His children?  I tend to think He does?  In a sense receiving a reward is the same as being honored or recognized.  And I believe that when we do things that honor and please God: He delights in rewarding us.

The Bible teaches us the principle of reaping and sowing.  When we give good things, in effect, we get good things.  If we sow love – we get love; if we sow peace – we have peace; when we sow commitment and service from a willing heart filled with love; we are rewarded by God’s pleasure and delight in us.

Spiritually speaking, if we don’t feel rewarded, maybe it is because we are not doing anything worthy of a reward.

“No person was ever honored for what he received.  Honor has been the reward for what he gave.”

-       Calvin Coolidge

Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.  By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh. By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.  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 11:3-6

Most if not all of us like to be rewarded.  But we must remember that in order to be rewarded we need to do something worthy of the rewards.  Now sometimes God’s grace and mercy transcend our worthiness; but how much sweeter the reward when it comes because of a life well lived and a deed well done for God’s glory.

Today’s Prayer

Father, you are so kind, gracious and loving and it should be our delight to serve you without the need of being rewarded; but I thank you that you delight in rewarding us because you love us so much.  Help me to live worthy of your rewards.

“My life is in You Lord
My strength is in You Lord
My hope is in You Lord
In You, it’s in You

I’ll praise You with all of my life
I’ll praise You with all of my strength
With all of my life, with all of my strength
All my hope is in You “

-  Lyrics from ‘My Life Is In You Lord’ by Daniel Gardner