Which "Reward" Are You Working For?

"By Your hand save me from such people, Lord, from those of this world whose reward is in this life."  (Psalm 17:14a, NIV)

Most humans work for, "reward...in this life", save money for, "reward...in this life", and too often even "do good" for, "reward...in this life."

The reality is that if one believes Jesus, "The Word of God," then one believes that the greatest, "reward...in...life", is not, "...in this life."  Jesus tells us, "Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life...."  Jesus then goes on to tell us, "The work of God is this: to believe in (entrust yourselves to) the One He has sent."  This is to be life's all consuming, "work."

This is also Luke 21 day in the quarter, in which our Lord Jesus tells us of things to come, how that this age will end in a dramatic climax, "At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory."  The Second Appearing of Jesus, the life to come, "the Marriage Supper of the Lamb," is reward which goes way beyond any, "reward...in this life."  And one more: One of today's Psalms reading speaks of obedience to, "the Words of God," and the accompanying, "in keeping them there is great reward."

Well, there you have it.  It seems as though the Lord Jesus was surrounding me with the exhortation to work only for the reward which comes in, "keeping them (His Words)", "....the food that endures to eternal life," and His invitation to, "the Marriage Supper of the Lamb."  You, my friend, have the very same invitation/command to the same, "Great Reward."

Father, in Jesus' Name, please reveal more and more just what, "work out your salvation with fear and trembling," means.  Amen.

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Hebrews 12:2