Category Archives: Reward

Bible, Justification, Reward, Scripture, Wages

WAGES DUE

ROMANS 4:4

“Now to the one who works, the wages are not credited as a favor, but as what is due.” 

It seems I have been working all my life. I had my first job mowing lawns in our neighborhood with my older brother. We got paid after each job. Then I got a job at a gas station where my brother worked and was assigned car washing duties. There I got paid once a week. Later own I had other part-time jobs and received my wages either weekly or biweekly. As I got older and started my ministry career, those paychecks became monthly. But at each and every job, I got paid for my work.

In today’s verse, Paul presents a fact that those who work deserve their wage. He is not saying that this applies to our salvation. He has stated very clearly in earlier verses that our justification is strictly on faith. He is simply giving an illustration that his readers could relate to. We’ll see the contrast in tomorrow’s verse. You don’t have to complicate this verse by trying to see a hidden meaning. Sometimes Paul just states the obvious.

APPLICATION

What we can take from this, however, is that we are not to try to earn our justification by any works we accomplish. Justification is not our wage for doing works. The Greek word for “wage” is misthos and can be translated as pay or reward. In Matthew 6:1, Jesus gives us a warning about our reward. “‘Take care not to practice your righteousness in the sight of people, to be noticed by them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven.’” I want my reward, don’t you?

At the conclusion of the Beatitudes in Matthew 5, Jesus says this in verse 12, “‘Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great;…’” Isn’t that great news? But remember, it’s not for anything you’ve done. We receive a reward for trusting Him. We receive a reward for being His child. Will some receive more rewards than others? I think so. Some dear saint you have never heard of will receive that great reward for their loyalty and dedication even though they were never recognized here on earth.

Don’t think your position in church will gain you more. It won’t. Don’t think because you have more degrees than a thermometer (you’ll catch later), you will have a bigger reward. You won’t. Our wage, our reward that we will receive in glory will come only because the Father deems us worthy of it for placing our faith in Jesus and serving Him sacrificially. Let us work for Him daily but not do it to gain anything.

Father, I serve You and willingly do what You ask, knowing that You will reward me for my relationship, not my works.

If the Lord should lead you to support our ministry, check out our ministry page at Trans World Radio (www.twr.org/carl-willis). 

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Bible, Blessing, Glory, Honor, Peace, Reward, Scripture

THE PAYOFF

ROMANS 2:10

“but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who does what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.”

As a parent and grandparent, I have loved blessing my children and grandchildren. When my children were young, my wife and I would praise them and do special things on their birthday. I have a 13 month grandson who gets all sorts of hugs and kisses from us for every little thing he does (of course). I can’t wait until he can truly understand the concept of rewards and blessings. I want him to know that his actions can determine the response he receives in positive ways.

Oh, what a contrast today’s verse is with yesterday’s verse. Instead of tribulations and distress for doing evil, we who do good will receive glory, honor and peace. Wow! Who doesn’t want that? All it takes is for us to get those awesome things is to “do good.” Now, wait a minute, Paul. Is that really all it involves? We need to break down those two words to get a picture of what Paul is saying because he is not negating the saving power of Christ in this.

APPLICATION

The word “do” is really a present participle in the middle voice. Okay Carl, you just lost me. Well, hang on. It may read better as “who is continually doing of their own choice.” It’s not a one-time event in this person’s life. It’s their lifestyle. They seek to honor God by doing what He says when He says and how He says. It’s not their plan. It’s His. Isn’t that what Jesus did? John 5:19 says, “Therefore Jesus answered and was saying to them, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, unless it is something He sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in the same way.’”

Then there’s the word “good.” That’s the Greek word agathós which “originates from God and is empowered by Him in their life, through faith.” (HELPS Word studies) We see this talked about all through Scripture. Jesus told us a good tree only bears good fruit. It cannot bear bad fruit (Matthew 7:17-18). We are filled with the Holy Spirit as followers of Christ. He enables all that is good in us.

So, you have a choice. You can choose evil things and receive tribulations and distress, or you can choose to do good and receive glory, honor and peace. I’m on the second train, folks. Is it always easy to do what is good? No! Why? Our flesh gets in the way. Only by yielding to Him every second of every day can you continually do what is good. Go and to do that and receive glory, honor and peace.

O Lord, You are so gracious to bestow glory, honor and peace on me for simply obeying You. It is a joy to obey.

If the Lord should lead you to support our ministry, check out our ministry page at Trans World Radio (www.twr.org/carl-willis). 

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Affliction, Bible, Praise, Reward, Scripture, Sharing, Suffering

THE REWARD FOR SHARING

PHILIPPIANS 4:14

“Nevertheless, you have done well to share with me in my difficulty.”

Sharing is not something that is natural. Just watch a room of two-year-olds playing together in a playroom. It won’t be long until one child wants the toy another child has, and the fight begins. Instead of sharing that toy with the other child, that child gets a death grip on that toy. He is not letting go, no matter what.

Paul compliments the Philippians believers in today’s verse by telling them they “have done well to share” with him in his difficulty or afflictions. They had not forgotten him. They had sent the gift to him to help meet his needs. Don’t you know they beamed with pride when they read those words “you have done well”? Man, I want to hear that from my Lord one day, don’t you?

APPLICATION

The word Paul uses here for “share” is only used two other times in the New Testament, both in a negative way. In Ephesians 5:11 we are told to “not participate in the useless deeds of darkness,…” And in Revelation 18:4, John writes, “so that you will not participate in her sins and receive any of her plagues;…” Only here in Philippians 4:14 is it used positively.

Just like the Philippians did with Paul, we are to share in others’ suffering. We are to come alongside them and encourage them. We are to assist where and when possible, without enabling or lengthening their suffering. Who can you share that with today? Maybe a neighbor going through a hard time. Maybe a stranger who needs a helping hand. Look around and ask the Lord. He’ll show you.

The end result? We will hear our Savior say, “Well done, my good and faithful servant.” Oh, I long to hear those words. He whispers it to me when I love my wife well. He reminds me of it every time I yield to the Spirit and not to the flesh. If you want to hear those words, cling to Him. Share suffering and hardships with others through giving or going. Well done!

I praise You, Father, for allowing me the privilege to share in others’ suffering. Help me to answer Your call each time You ask. 

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Bible, Deception, Prize, Reward, Scripture

KEEP YOUR EYE ON THE PRIZE

COLOSSIANS 2:18

“Take care that no one keeps defrauding you of your prize by delighting in humility and the worship of the angels, taking his stand on visions he has seen, inflated without cause by his fleshly mind,”

If you are a sports fan and have a favorite team, there has probably been a game in which you felt your team was robbed a victory by a poor decision by an umpire or referee. Their decision took away a touchdown or a goal, resulting in a loss rather than a victory. It makes you “fighting mad,” doesn’t it? You want to go after that referee. Well, this is exactly what Paul is talking about today in our verse.

In fact, the phrase “keeps defrauding you of your prize” is one Greek word. It only appears here. I know I refer to Strong’s Lexicon a lot in my blogs, but I find it very helpful in describing some words. As it refers to this verb, it says, “The verb ‘katabrabeuó’ is used in the context of making a judgment against someone, particularly in a way that disqualifies or condemns them. It carries the connotation of an authoritative decision, often in a negative sense, where someone is deprived of a reward or position due to a judgment made against them.”

APPLICATION

So, what is Paul saying and how does this apply to us? Listen, there are many people out there who want to rob you of your prize. What is that prize? Your heavenly reward! They want to lure you away in wrong thinking. One example of this is the lie that all people will go to heaven. God is love and He won’t send anyone to hell. Wrong! God does not send anyone to hell. People choose hell by rejecting His Son Jesus.

In 1 Corinthians 9:24-25, Paul says this about our prize. “24 Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. 25 Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. So they do it to obtain a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.” And how about in Philippians 3:14 where Paul writes, “I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”

Run the race! Press on! Your prize awaits you. Keep your eye fixed on your heavenly reward. Don’t we swayed by the world or its enticements. Don’t believe easy believism. Stay the course and you will not be disappointed.

Father, I praise You for the promise of my prize. I know Your promises never fail.

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Bible, Goodness, Judgment, Reward, Scripture, Service

PAYBACK

EPHESIANS 6:8

“knowing that whatever good thing each one does, he will receive this back from the Lord, whether slave or free.”

“You’re going to get what’s coming to ya!” Have you ever heard that? Usually, that is screamed at you by someone who wants to retaliate because they think you’ve done something to hurt them. So, you walk around looking over your shoulder, waiting for the hammer to drop, right? You’re paranoid they are going to get you back.

Well, that is not what Paul is describing in today’s verse. In fact, just the opposite. He says because of your “good thing” you do, you “will receive back from the Lord.” The Greek word for “receive this back” is komizó. It’s only used ten times in the New Testament. It means “I receive back, receive what has belonged to myself but has been lost, or else promised but kept back, or: I get what has come to be my own by earning, recover.” (Strong’s Concordance). I like that a lot better than the example I gave, don’t you?

APPLICATION

Komizo is used in 1 Peter 1:9. “obtaining as the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.” Peter uses it again in 1 Peter 5:4. “And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.” Both of these are worth waiting for, don’t you think? And remember, God always keeps His promises to us.

Of course, you may also be promised to receive the consequences for your actions. In 2 Corinthians 5:10, Paul uses komizo again. “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive compensation for his deeds done through the body, in accordance with what he has done, whether good or bad.”

What are you going to receive? If you are a believer in Christ, you can be assured of your salvation. But your rewards will vary according to your faithfulness here on earth. You may say, Well Carl, I just want to get to heaven. It doesn’t matter what I am rewarded for. I understand that, but all those rewards you receive will be laid at the feet of Christ. I want my pile to be so high that I have to get on my glorified tiptoes to see Jesus. How about you?

Father, I want to honor You in all I do, so that I can give back to You all You honor me with in glory.

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Bible, Reward, Scripture, Service, Works

BECOMING WEARY

HABAKKUK 2:13

“‘Is it not indeed from the LORD of armies that peoples labor merely for fire, and nations become weary for nothing?’”

To what purpose is our labor? I don’t know about you, but I have worked all my life. I began at an early age mowing lawns with my brother in our hometown. Even before that, I was tasked with household chores (washing windows, vacuuming, washing dishes, etc). I hope I am able to labor until God calls me home.

God is speaking here of the weariness of our labors if they are not directed in laboring to please Him. He says they labor just making fire. They get weary doing nothing. The pagans knew nothing of working to please God. They were only concerned with themselves. It is all weariness!

APPLICATION

As I am writing this blog, I am attending Pastors’ Conference in Kenya. I warned them as I was teaching to not get too busy “for God.” We can become so busy “doing” that we don’t focus on “being.” Sure, we need to labor. We need to do God’s work, but we can’t become so focused on working that we forget why we are working.

It is true that the harvest if plentiful, but the laborers are few. We need more people to serve the Lord to reach this world for Christ. We have to labor together. Isaiah 26:12 tells us, “All that we have accomplished, You have done through us.” Don’t forget that. He is the One who gives us our marching orders.

As I have gotten older, I have had to learn to work smarter, not harder. I just don’t have the physical stamina I used to have. That does not mean I can just sit on the porch in my rocker and watch others do all the work. I desire to be used by the Lord until I can’t be anymore. How about you?

We’ll work til Jesus comes, we’ll work til Jesus comes

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Bible, Reward, Scripture, Service, Works

BECOMING WEARY

HABAKKUK 2:13

“‘Is it not indeed from the LORD of armies that peoples labor merely for fire, and nations become weary for nothing?’”

To what purpose is our labor? I don’t know about you, but I have worked all my life. I began at an early age mowing lawns with my brother in our hometown. Even before that, I was tasked with household chores (washing windows, vacuuming, washing dishes, etc). I hope I am able to labor until God calls me home.

God is speaking here of the weariness of our labors if they are not directed in laboring to please Him. He says they labor just making fire. They get weary doing nothing. The pagans knew nothing of working to please God. They were only concerned with themselves. It is all weariness!

APPLICATION

As I am writing this blog, I am attending Pastors’ Conference in Kenya. I warned them as I was teaching to not get too busy “for God.” We can become so busy “doing” that we don’t focus on “being.” Sure, we need to labor. We need to do God’s work, but we can’t become so focused on working that we forget why we are working.

It is true that the harvest if plentiful, but the laborers are few. We need more people to serve the Lord to reach this world for Christ. We have to labor together. Isaiah 26:12 tells us, “All that we have accomplished, You have done through us.” Don’t forget that. He is the One who gives us our marching orders.

As I have gotten older, I have had to learn to work smarter, not harder. I just don’t have the physical stamina I used to have. That does not mean I can just sit on the porch in my rocker and watch others do all the work. I desire to be used by the Lord until I can’t be anymore. How about you?

We’ll work til Jesus comes, we’ll work til Jesus comes

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Bible, Favor, God's Will, Goodness, Praise, Promises, Relationships, Reward, Salvation, Scripture, Truth

TRUTH AND FAVOR 

MICAH 7:20 

“You will give truth to Jacob and favor to Abraham, which You swore to our forefathers from the days of old.” 

I like receiving gifts. Don’t you? I mean, come on, who doesn’t? But I really like receiving gifts that include things I need. I am at the age now that I really do not want many things. So, I am hard to buy for. When my family gets me a gift, it is usually something I have specifically told them I could use. 

Look at these two gifts that God gives Jacob and Abraham. The Hebrew word for “truth” can mean steadfastness, faithfulness and truth. The word contains so much more than what we consider truth. Then He gives favor. That Hebrew word is key to God’s covenant relationship with Abraham and the whole nation of Israel. It can also be translated as loving-kindness. 

APPLICATION

Oh, to have God’s truth and favor. Wait a second! I do! When we come to Christ, we receive both of these to their fullest extent. God’s truth is found for us in His word. God’s favor is celebrated through our covenant relationship with Him through Jesus. We receive the same gifts as Jacob and Abraham. 

Now, listen carefully. Both of these gifts are given for a purpose. God does not give us gifts to hoard and keep to ourselves. Oh no. These gifts are given to share. We share God’s truth with people everywhere. We introduce others to the covenant relationship we have in Christ. 

I am not worthy of these gifts from God. Neither are you. But God gives liberally to His children. The very moment you ask Christ into your heart, these gifts arrive. Hallelujah! Who can help but praise Him for these beautiful gifts. 

Thank You, Father, for giving me truth and favor, just like Jacob and Abraham. 

(This is my last blog on Micah. I will start the book of Nahum tomorrow.)  

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Abiding, Advocate, Agreement, Bible, Blessing, Commitment, Covenant, Discipline, Encouragement, Faithfulness, Goodness, Home, Reward

NO MORE

AMOS 9:15

“‘I will also plant them on their land, and they will not be uprooted again from their land which I have given them,’ says the LORD your God.”

I worked over 30 years with children in the foster care system. Most of these children were removed from their homes due to their parents, not due to anything they had done. Some of the children, however, were placed with us because of their behavior. I had the joy on several occasions to see these families restored. Seeing these children go home made our hard work with them so worth it. Our prayer was always that they would remain with their parents.

God removed Israel from the Promised Land for repeated unrepentance and rebellion. He had to discipline His children. But now He is telling them He would bring them back home to never leave again. That land was theirs. He had promised it and meant for them to keep it. What great news! What a great way to end this book.

APPLICATION

Let me ask you a question. Have you wandered from home? Are you far away from the Master? Maybe you are like that prodigal son who found himself in a pig pen instead of at home with his father. Wherever you are today, stop and take notice. Ask yourself if you are residing with Jesus.

Your physical location is of less importance than your spiritual location. What do I mean by that? You can be in the pit but free in Him. You could be going through the valley of the shadow of death but walking unafraid because of your reliance on the King. The Lord wants us to feel safe. He wants us home.

I can only speak for myself, but I find myself sometimes feeling like I’ve moved to a foreign country spiritually. I go through dry spells and struggle to pray. But when I persevere and stay in the Word, God brings me home. I had always been secure. I just needed reminding whose I am. How about you?

Lord of my life, lead me home. I want to dwell with You in Your Promised Land.

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Abiding, Affection, Bible, Blessing, Death, Encouragement, Fellowship, God's Will, Heaven, Judgment, Promises, Redemption, Reward, Salvation, Sanctification, Scripture

AND DIED

HOSEA 13:1 

“When Ephraim spoke, there was trembling. He exalted himself in Israel, but through Baal he incurred guilt and died.” 

My parents have both died. We grieved. We were heartbroken. Death seems to be so…final. But for a believer, it isn’t. My parents loved Jesus. We know they were instantly carried into the arms of Jesus. We did not “lose” them. We know exactly where they are and long to join them one day. 

Ephraim also died, but his death wasn’t so joyful. Ephraim had rebelled against God and was proud of themselves. They had invited Baal and Ashtoreth into their land. They had built elaborate temples for them both. His trembling wasn’t in humility. That would have been appropriate. Judgment was sure and certain. 

APPLICATION 

Pride certainly comes before the fall. How do we guard against being so prideful, like Ephraim? Our natural tendency is to be boastful and full of ourselves. That’s our sin nature. We fight that our entire lives. Outside the grace of God, we have no hope. 

But thanks be to God, through Jesus we can come before the throne of God and bow. Because of Christ’s shed blood we have forgiveness. Now, our trembling is in humility and gratefulness. We recognize God’s preeminence in our lives. We are nothing without Him. He gives us purpose. 

I want that, don’t you? I desire to be held in His arms and loved. My parents walked into their heavenly reward the day they died. Christ’s warm embrace enveloped them. And as they entered, I am sure they heard those words we all long to hear. “Well done, my good and faithful servant. Enter into your reward.” 

Father, thank You for welcoming my parents. Love them well. 

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