Happy birthday to me! Yep, I'm 52 years old this morning. And I can't think of a better way to start off my day than sharing a Bible study with you! Is it ok to think about and seek out the rewards of God? Join me as we study Matthew 6:1-4.
#134: Rewards of God from Mark Pierce on Vimeo.
If you have any difficulty watching the video above, it is also available on Vimeo and on YouTube. Also you can listen to the audio version either on the Church Requel Audio Blog or take it with you by subscribing to the Church Requel Audio Podcast.
If you'd rather read my personal study notes instead of watching the video, just click "Continue Reading" below.
What do you think? Is it ok to think about the rewards of God? What did Jesus have to say? Stay tuned for some rewarding thoughts in today’s brief video Bible study.
READ: Matthew 6:1-4.
Overview of where we are. Matt. 5:21-48 focused on the teaching of the law, on what men thought God taught and Jesus’ correction of what God really taught. This section emphasized moral righteousness with 6 illustrations: (1) murder, (2) adultery, (3) divorce (4) oaths, (5) retaliation, and (6) love. Matt. 6: 1-18 moves from the teaching of the law to the practice of the law, from teaching to doing. And like in the first section where there were 6 illustrations, we will find here 3 illustrations: (1) giving, (2) praying, and (3) fasting. We might think of each of these in terms of the practice of the Christian faith: (1) giving, our Christian practice with others; (2) praying, our Christian practice with God and (3) fasting, our Christian practice with ourselves.
First, we need to consider the issue of the Rewards of God. In each of these three Christian practices, Jesus will talk about motivations - why we do the things we do - and he will talk about “rewards” - either already receiving an inferior earthly reward OR receiving the reward that our heavenly Father might bestow upon us.
We are hesitant to talk about God’s rewards. But Jesus never was. Jesus initiated the concept of the rewards of God! Not only here, but throughout his teaching.
- Matt 5:12 - Blessed when others revile and persecute you... great is reward in heaven.
- Matt 6:19-21 - Store up treasures in heaven (moth rust don’t destroy & not stolen)
- Matt 10:42 - Whoever gives disciple a cup of water will not lose his reward in heaven.
- Matt 25:14-30 - parable of the talents - faithful service will receive its reward.
- Matt 25:31-46 - rewards and punishments in the final judgment.
Seven (7) thoughts about Rewards of God:
- Never confuse these rewards with gift of eternal life, based on faith alone -Eph. 2:8-9
- Motivation is important to Jesus. Shouldn’t seek rewards of men. God’s different?
- Timing of the reward - not necessarily now on earth. Jesus talks much of suffering.
- Satisfaction - Internal sense of “telios” - completeness, maturity, used for intended purpose. There’s nothing quite like the feeling of being used by God!
- Relationships - with God and with others. Loving God and loving others!
- More responsibilities - parable of talents - good and faithful servants doubled their oversight of the master’s possessions.
- What about material blessings, either here or later in eternity. We can’t rule this out. Jesus does say he goes to prepare a place for us (John 14:2-3). Whether this is “mansions” (KJV) or “plenty of room” (The Message). Whatever, it will perfectly satisfy our glorified and perfected selves. Perhaps more spiritual, but no less real!
Tomorrow (Wednesday): same passage - Right Action, Wrong Motive
