WHOSE REWARD DO YOU SEEK?

TEXT:

"Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven. Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward." (Matthew 6 verses 1 to 2 King James Version).

The object of the Lord's admonition in the Scripture reading for today is that we shouldn't be like the hypocrites when we do our good and charitable deeds. But who's the hypocrite? He's one who acts what he's not. He's one that plays to the gallery. His main object is that he may be seen and have the praise and glory of men.

     The Synagogues (Churches) and streets (social gatherings) served as theatrical platforms for hypocrites. As actors, they must perform before men, to receive their applause (ie, the glory and praise of men) This reveals the motive behind their acts. According to the Lord Jesus, "Verily I say unto you, They have their reward." (Matthew 6 verse 2).

    It's well known that when it comes to reward, there are not only two different times for reward, but also, there are two different kinds of reward. As for times for reward, it's either that it's "now" or it's "in the future". In relation to kinds of reward, we have that which comes from man and that which comes from God. It actually depends on what you want. Indeed, it's very tempting to seek the reward of men when we do service unto the Lord. But the question to answer this morning is whether you crave to be rewarded now and by men as the hypocrites do or to be rewarded in the future and by God as Christ has recommended to us?

    The truth is that no one can have both rewards! If we desire man's reward now, we will be precluded from receiving God's reward in the future. No one can seek to enjoy great fame on earth and expect to be elevated highly in heaven. The warning here is that if your alms giving and good works are for the purpose of getting fame or the applause and praises of men, understand that there'll be nothing to hope for in heaven before God. In Luke 16 verse 15, the Lord Jesus told us plainly saying , "for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God."

   This calls for carefulness as we do service unto the Lord, whether in the Church or otherwise. That you desire the praise and applause of men as you do alms giving and service unto God, speaks volumes of you. After all, what can the praise and applause of men do to us, given that we are strangers and pilgrims here on earth? (See Hebrews 11 verse 13 and 1st Peter 2 verse 11). Like the saints in God's Hall of Fame (Hebrews chapter 11), by our conduct here on earth, we declare plainly that we seek a country (Hebrews 11 verse 14). The Bible says, "For here (on earth) have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come." (Hebrews 13 verse 15, emphasis added). Again, by our sacrificial conduct here on earth, we show that we're longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called our God, for he has prepared a city for us.(See Hebrews 11 verse 16).

     Next time you do your alms giving or service unto the Lord, ask yourself whose reward you seek: the reward of men now or that of God in the future.

PRAYER:

Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, I pray that You help me to understand that it is far better to seek your reward in the future, in heaven, than to seek the reward of men now on earth.