Evangelism: rewards of service to God

Evangelism: rewards of service to God

Posted on December 8, 2008

FOR LOVE OR REWARD?

Memorise: “Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren” (1 John 3:16)

Read: 1 John 3:13-18

You were not chosen because of your wisdom, beauty, intelligence, wealth or popularity but because of His love. God chose you in your weakness so that He can demonstrate His strength and might in what you allow Him to do through you, and the height you allow Him to take you.

He expects you to reciprocate. After His resurrection, the Lord thrice asked Peter if he loved Him more than the things of the world (John 21:15-17). If you do not love God, you cannot serve Him appropriately. Your service will remain defective as long as love is not the foundation or motivation (1 Corinthians 13:1-3).

Stop serving God because of earthly and heavenly rewards! Service is more meaningful if it is based on love. Any service based on reward is still selfish to some extent. Why are you serving God today? I am not serving God for reward. If not I would have been a millionaire by now. Yet, it is possible to be financially prosperous in serving God even when your motivation is not money, material things or a reward.

In 2 Kings 4:8-17, the rich Shunammite woman saw the man of God passing her street one day and invited him for lunch. Sensing his need, she went further and built him a house attached to hers and furnished it. She was not expecting anything in return. When the man of God asked what she needed, she declined. He had to carry out a research to know that she was barren before he promised her what money could not buy.

Those who serve God aggressively, particularly when such service is borne out of love, always end up with the greatest rewards – what money cannot buy. In 2 Kings 2:11, we read about Elijah who served God so selflessly that his life was endangered. On the day of his departure from this world, God honoured him specially. He did not have to go through the door of death like other men.

God sent His personal chariot to pick him from earth to Heaven. He was so committed to God that he did not even marry. When you work for God out of love for Him, He is honoured. God has several ways of honouring those who honour Him. He stood up for Stephen when he was being stoned to death. That He stood for him means the whole of Heaven stood to welcome Stephen to His final eternal abode.

In 2 Timothy 4:6-8, we read the final testimony of a man who faced hazards for the sake of the Gospel. His life, reputation and achievements meant nothing to him because of his love for Jesus. Why are you serving God today? Is it out of love or reward? Move up from today. Move from selfish to selfless service. Upgrade from reward to love

In prayer, dedicate yourself to God afresh. Ask Him to help you serve Him purely out of love. Ask that God’s love will grow strong in the Body of Christ

Source: E-Open Heavens