My Exceedingly Great Reward
“Lord, save me by your power from those whose reward in in this life.” (Psalm 17:14 NCV)
How many of us in the church live as if our reward is in this life? Unfortunately, many of us do. If we live primarily for the rewards of this earth, then we will miss out on so much. If we strive for the praise of men, then we will miss out on the praise of Heaven. If we live solely for the riches of earth, we will miss out on the treasures of Heaven.
Jesus said we can either store up our treasures on earth, which will one day be destroyed and forgotten, or we can live to store up treasures in heaven.
How do we do that?
We do everything we do, word and deed, for Him, working with all our might, knowing that “from the Lord we will receive our reward.” (Colossians 3:23)
We look not to man or money for reward or praise, but to the Lord Himself.
The Lord said to Abraham, “I am your exceedingly great reward.” Not just “your” reward or “a” reward, but “your exceedingly great reward!”
The Lord called Abraham to give up his home, his family and possessions and follow him to a place unknown. Abraham did so willingly, for he knew that God truly was his “exceedingly great reward.” He knew that as long as He had the Lord, he had “everything.”
Jesus said, “Truly I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or farms, for my sake and the gospel’s sake but that he will receive a hundred times more.” (Mark 10:29-30)
What are you “willing” to give up for His sake and for the sake of the gospel? If he asked you, like Abraham, to leave everything and everyone behind and follow Him to a place of uncertainty, would you go?
Is He your “exceedingly great reward?” Does your heart beat for Him and His ways or do you get way more excited about possessions, clothes, cars, food, hockey, football, vacations, entertainment or pleasure?
I just read an article about Facebook and how much time we spend on it, in comparison to how much time we spend in the Word and pursuit of God. Social media has taken over our lives. We need to get our priorities and hearts back to the right place. We must see Him for the treasure He is.
Paul said, “What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ.” (Philippians 3:8 NIV)
Paul was saying, “Nothing else even comes close, not the greatest treasure this world could offer, to The treasure, The prize, The exceeding great reward of Christ Himself.”
He is the one we press on for. He is the reason we live. All glory, honour and praise belong to Him and Him alone. When we have Him, we have everything. He is worth giving all for; leaving all for.
Let us press on for the prize that awaits those who have fully given their hearts and lives to Him.