Servanthood: Rewards for Today

Hebrews 6:9-12

God rewards His children for every act of service done with selfless
motivation. Even a small deed like helping to pick up dropped papers doesn't
escape
His notice. Throughout the Bible, we find promises that the Lord repays
right actions."Whatever good thing each one does, this he will receive back
from
the Lord," Paul assures us in his letter to the Ephesians (6:8). And in
Revelation 22:12, Jesus speaks through John, saying, "Behold, I am coming
quickly,
and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to what he has
done."

If rewards were bestowed only after we reached heaven, then believers who
live to a ripe old age would have to wait a long time to see these benefits
of
their service. Thankfully, though, God sprinkles blessings all throughout
His children's lives. For instance, we enjoy fellowship not only with those
serving
alongside us but also with those for whom we labor. Perhaps the greatest
gift for faithful service is joy, which can be experienced in so many
contexts:
joy can come from leading someone to the Savior, from the special knowledge
that our works contribute to spiritual growth, or from making eternally
valuable
choices.

God's promise comes with a warning: Only service done for the Lord will
endure. The work we do to gain attention for ourselves may earn us the
notice and
praise of men, but that reward is neither filling nor lasting in value
(Matthew 6:1, 5,16). Think about your genuine motivations for being a
servant. Let
your love for mankind and devotion to God propel you to serve Him.


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