The Reward of Work

"Give her of the fruit of her hands, And let her own works praise her in the gates" (Pro 31:31 NKJV).

So often I think of doing my work for the Lord's benefit. But it is obvious, when I think about it, that nothing that I do or don't do can possibly add to His power and strength. So then I think that it is for others, and on one level it is. But in the end, I myself am the primary beneficiary of my own work. This is true not only in this life, in growth of character and rewards (whether material, spiritual, or emotional) but in eternity as well. The fruit of my hands will be given to me! (Nothing is wasted!) Our own works will cause Jesus to praise us before men and angels: "Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord" (Mat. 25:21).

"For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, you are God's building. According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one's work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one's work, of what sort it is. If anyone's work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone's work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire" (1Co 3:9-15 NKJV, emphasis added).

While our works will not earn Heaven for us, they still have real eternal value. If what we build during this internship (this pre-life, if you will) survives the fire of judgment, it will continue on in the new Heaven and Earth, and we will be honored for having done it. You may work now in obscurity, hidden from the praise of man. You may often wonder whether anyone sees. You may crave praise. (Oh, do I!) Our desire is not wrong. But the best praise is saved for last. Our work is not yet complete. One day, all that we have done in secret "as to the Lord" will be noticed by all of creation. Our Father, who sees us now, will reward us openly!

This is the opposite of man's way. Jesus' brothers advised him, "For no one does anything in secret while he himself seeks to be known openly. If You do these things, show Yourself to the world" (Joh 7:4 NKJV). The human way is to do everything openly, to be known and recognized by as many as possible, as quickly as possible. But this is the way of unbelief (7:5). Jesus' way is the opposite: "But when His brothers had gone up, then He also went up to the feast, not openly, but as it were in secret" (Joh 7:10 NKJV). And this is the reason: Whatever is done secretly now, the Father will reward openly later!

"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" (Mat 6:3-4 NKJV).

"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" (Mat 6:6 NKJV).

"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" (Mat 6:17-18 NKJV).

Three times, Jesus repeats the phrase, "your Father who sees in secret will reward you." Perhaps this is something He wants us to understand!

Lord, help me not to do my work merely for temporary rewards. Please protect me from seeing myself as a martyr for my family, slaving away with little appreciation for all my work. For, whether anyone now notices or not, You see everything I do. Help me to do it well, for Your praise. Rest my heart in the knowledge that the real, lasting rewards are still to come. Thank You for the encouragement of the praise I do receive (and now that I think of it, it comes more often than I sometimes think). It helps to keep me going. But let me thank You even more for the acts of love and service that I do which are not noticed, for these are the ones for which I will reap great, eternal rewards later. Please give me the grace to patiently wait for what You have promised instead of grasping for whatever I can get now.

"And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ" (Col 3:23-24 NKJV).

The Secret of Getting Dressed

In conclusion, be strong in the Lord [be empowered through your union with Him]; draw your strength from Him [that strength which His boundless might provides]. Put on God's whole armor [the armor of a heavy-armed soldier which God supplies], that you may be able successfully to stand up against [all] the strategies and the deceits of the devil. For we are not wrestling with flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the despotisms, against the powers, against [the master spirits who are] the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spirit forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) sphere. Therefore put on God's complete armor, that you may be able to resist and stand your ground on the evil day [of danger], and, having done all [the crisis demands], to stand [firmly in your place]. Stand therefore [hold your ground], having tightened the belt of truth around your loins and having put on the breastplate of integrity and of moral rectitude and right standing with God, And having shod your feet in preparation [to face the enemy with the firm-footed stability, the promptness, and the readiness produced by the good news] of the Gospel of peace. [Isa. 52:7.] Lift up over all the [covering] shield of saving faith, upon which you can quench all the flaming missiles of the wicked [one]. And take the helmet of salvation and the sword that the Spirit wields, which is the Word of God. Pray at all times (on every occasion, in every season) in the Spirit, with all [manner of] prayer and entreaty. To that end keep alert and watch with strong purpose and perseverance, interceding in behalf of all the saints (God's consecrated people). (Eph 6:10-18 AMP)

Thank You, Lord, for the armor You provide (Eph. 6:10-18). You do not leave us defenseless against the attacks of the enemy. I do not have to enter the day unprepared. Instead, I can ask for and receive Your protection as I go forth, confident that the armor You have given me is sufficient to deflect every attack, whether it be in thought, word, or deed. I do not need to run through the day ducking for cover, but I can stride confidently into the battlefield, for I am protected by You. You do not desire to beat me down (that is a lie of the enemy). You desire me to overcome! And You promise many rewards to me when I do:

· To eat of the tree of life in the paradise of God (Rev. 2:7);
· To be in no way injured by the second death (2:11);
· To eat of the manna that is hidden (2:17);
· A new name engraved on a white stone (2:17);
· Authority and power over the nations (2:26);
· White garments (3:5)
· Name in the Book of Life (3:5);
· Acknowledged as belonging to Jesus (3:5)
· Name confessed by Jesus before His Father and the angels (3:5);
· To be a pillar in the sanctuary of God (3:12);
· To never be cast out of His presence (3:12);
· To be given the name of God, the city of God, and Jesus’ own new name (3:12);
· To sit beside Jesus on His throne (3:21);
· To inherit the new heaven and new earth, and the new Jerusalem, where God will personally be with us and be our God, where He will wipe away every tear and remove death, sorrow, and pain, and where we will drink from the springs of the water of life (21:1-7);
· To be God’s son and He our God (21:7).

What a progression. From the outer courts into the inner sanctuary, we are given many great and precious promises (2 Pet. 1:4)! We go from being allowed to eat of the tree of life (eternal life), to eating the hidden manna (revelation of the mysteries of God), to increased authority and privilege until we realize that we have been received into the very innermost circle—the circle of the Trinity—sharing in the Jesus’ own position as the Son.

And if we are [His] children, then we are [His] heirs also: heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ [sharing His inheritance with Him]; only we must share His suffering if we are to share His glory. (Rom 8:17 AMP)

This is far beyond my comprehension. I am probably stating it badly. I do not mean that we will become God. But God did say that we are His children, His heirs alongside Christ … that is worth thinking on! And even in the above verse, the prerequisite of overcoming is implied. We “must share His suffering” in order to “share His glory.” And we are not unprotected!

For His divine power has bestowed upon us all things that [are requisite and suited] to life and godliness, through the [full, personal] knowledge of Him Who called us by and to His own glory and excellence (virtue). By means of these He has bestowed on us His precious and exceedingly great promises, so that through them you may escape [by flight] from the moral decay (rottenness and corruption) that is in the world because of covetousness (lust and greed), and become sharers (partakers) of the divine nature. (2Pe 1:3-4 AMP)

Lord, give me that knowledge of You. Make me able to escape the rottenness and corruption that seeks to overcome me and become a sharer (wow!) in Your divine nature. You will fulfill every desire of my heart for love, acceptance, greatness, honor, recognition, power, and authority. And the way is through You. Protect me with Your armor of truth, righteousness, peace, faith, salvation, and Your Word so that I may stand my ground, drawing my strength from You. You are my goal. You are the end of my journey. Thank You that You are also with me every step along the way. I will not be afraid, but I will trust in You!