One night as my family was walking into a store, we heard a woman yelling that her purse had been stolen. Just then, we saw a man in a green jacket run right past us carrying the stolen purse! Immediately my dad and another man took off chasing after the thief. Realizing he was going to be caught, the thief threw the purse underneath a parked car and continued fleeing the scene. My dad and the other man finally caught the thief and turned him over to the police.
While my dad was busy trying to catch the thief, a few kids found the purse and returned it to the woman. She was so happy to get her purse back that she started giving out money to reward the kids. But by the time my dad came back with the police the woman was all out of money, and my dad didn’t get anything as a reward!
Later I asked Dad if it bothered him that the kids got reward money for returning the purse when he didn’t get anything for catching the thief. I’ll never forget his answer. He said that it had bothered him for a minute, but then he remembered that we are here to serve God and that God gives rewards for service to Him.
Throughout the Bible, God’s rewards are often referred to as crowns. Let’s look at what the Bible says about God and His rewards.
God rewards those who are waiting for Him to come back (2 Timothy 4:8). Jesus is coming back someday. You need to be looking forward to that day and be ready for that day to come.
God rewards pastors (1 Peter 5:4). Your pastor has the responsibility to protect you from danger and to teach you God’s Word. It is a tough job – you need to pray for him.
God rewards those who don’t give in to temptation (James 1:12). First Corinthians 10:13 teaches that everyone is tempted. In fact, the verse says that temptation is common to all. But God will not allow you to be tempted to the point that you cannot resist the temptation. God always provides a way of escape. And when you do resist temptation, God gives a reward!
God’s reward will last forever (1 Corinthians 9:25). Paul says that people who win a footrace get a prize that will not last forever. But when God rewards us, His reward will last forever.
Remember that money that the woman gave to the kids who found her purse? That money probably didn’t last the kids more than a week. But remember the reward my dad reminded me about? When he gets that reward, it will be forever!
God gives rewards to those who follow Him and obey His Word.
My Response:
» At the end of life, will God be able to give you any rewards? Why or why not?