WEBVTT 00:00:07.120 --> 00:00:12.560 This sermon was recorded at Faith Evangelical Free Church in Grand Forks, North Dakota. 00:00:23.359 --> 00:00:29.600 Let's open our Bibles to Second Corinthians five, chapter nine. 00:00:30.800 --> 00:00:35.840 First Second Corinthians chapter five verse nine. 00:00:37.600 --> 00:00:48.079 Therefore, we also have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be pleasing to him. 00:00:49.200 --> 00:01:08.000 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. 00:01:08.480 --> 00:01:12.079 Dear Heavenly Father, I pray for our time here in the Word. 00:01:12.239 --> 00:01:25.359 I pray, God, that you will open our eyes and our hearts and our minds to comprehend these wonderful truths that you have set out for us in Scripture. 00:01:25.840 --> 00:01:40.400 May we respond and consider the implications of these truths in our daily lives, and may we adjust and realign our lives to your truth. 00:01:40.959 --> 00:01:42.879 I pray this in Jesus' name. 00:01:43.680 --> 00:01:44.319 Amen. 00:01:46.799 --> 00:01:51.599 Desertion during World War II became a big problem. 00:01:52.959 --> 00:02:08.639 Considering the brutality of the war, we don't want to be too judgmental on those who deserted, but it did seem that many soldiers lacked the motivation to serve the country. 00:02:09.439 --> 00:02:18.400 One example is that of the 25-year-old private with a criminal past from Detroit named Eddie Slovak. 00:02:18.879 --> 00:02:24.240 Slovik joined the war effort simply to avoid jail time. 00:02:24.800 --> 00:02:37.199 Lacking the ambition and the motivation to serve his country and be faithful to the call of duty, he deserted from G Company during the early parts of the Battle of the Bulge. 00:02:37.919 --> 00:02:48.719 Slovak was sentenced to death after a quick court martial led by none other than the Supreme Allied commander, General Dwight D. 00:02:48.879 --> 00:02:50.080 Eisenhower. 00:02:50.560 --> 00:02:59.840 Slovak pleaded for clemency, but his execution was carried out at 10.04 a.m. 00:03:00.240 --> 00:03:05.439 on January 31st, 1945 by firing squad. 00:03:05.759 --> 00:03:14.719 Now Eisenhower would come under heavily, heavy scrutiny for his unsympathetic actions. 00:03:15.520 --> 00:03:19.360 But one historian, Charles Glass, made a good point. 00:03:19.520 --> 00:03:30.800 He said the following: He said it was not the moment for the Supreme Allied commander to be seen as one who condones desertion. 00:03:32.400 --> 00:03:42.639 Fear of firing squad from that point loomed over the heads of every soldier, and it should have been a good motivator. 00:03:43.520 --> 00:03:46.479 I'll tell you later how that turned out. 00:03:46.960 --> 00:03:53.280 But for now, we are aliens and sojourners in our own battle. 00:03:54.800 --> 00:04:02.319 Many aliens and sojourners, however, lose the motivation to be faithful to the call of duty. 00:04:03.439 --> 00:04:15.759 In fact, some have become less than motivated, and some have actually become entangled in the affairs of the world, to which 2 Timothy 2.4 warns us. 00:04:17.120 --> 00:04:28.160 No one serving as a soldier gets to entangle himself in worldly affairs. 00:04:28.480 --> 00:04:35.279 His aim is to please his commanding officer, 2 Timothy 2.4. 00:04:36.800 --> 00:04:47.839 It seems that those enlisted by none other than the Supreme Commander Jesus Christ actually rewards faithfulness. 00:04:49.279 --> 00:04:56.560 Behold, I am coming quickly and my reward is with me, Revelation 22, twelve. 00:04:58.959 --> 00:05:05.360 Our mission, our motivations, our passions, our desires is to please the Lord. 00:05:14.480 --> 00:05:23.120 We will certainly be compromised in our faithfulness and our service to the Lord will become lackluster. 00:05:24.319 --> 00:05:31.600 You see, we as Christians are seldom taught about faithfulness and its reward. 00:05:32.560 --> 00:05:36.800 Faithfulness seems such a simplistic thing, but it's not. 00:05:36.959 --> 00:05:41.279 It is actually very hard to be faithful to the Lord. 00:05:42.079 --> 00:05:47.759 We seldom think about faithfulness with the prospect of a reward in the end. 00:05:48.000 --> 00:05:53.439 Faithfulness motivated by the prospect of reward seems treasonous. 00:05:54.240 --> 00:05:55.519 But it is not. 00:05:56.399 --> 00:06:01.199 Today's message is about faithfulness with its reward. 00:06:02.560 --> 00:06:03.839 Think of this. 00:06:05.360 --> 00:06:10.000 Choosing between vanilla ice cream and chocolate ice cream. 00:06:11.439 --> 00:06:21.120 Very few of us will pay attention or any consideration to the underlying motives and motivation for choosing one above the other. 00:06:21.680 --> 00:06:29.040 I always choose vanilla over chocolate because of the taste sensation. 00:06:29.279 --> 00:06:31.839 It's far more exhilarating to me. 00:06:32.240 --> 00:06:37.600 And perhaps vanilla has maybe less calories than chocolate. 00:06:37.839 --> 00:06:46.079 But in the end, my decision for vanilla is based on the rewards I receive. 00:06:46.240 --> 00:06:58.079 And so when we think about our motivation and our motivation to do things for the Lord Jesus Christ, and we base it off the prospect of reward, somehow people think you are crazy. 00:06:58.240 --> 00:07:00.959 We should just serve the Lord and forget about the reward. 00:07:01.040 --> 00:07:05.120 Well, I'll show you that it will be far harder than you think. 00:07:06.000 --> 00:07:12.879 Motives and motivations are often overlooked truths in the Christian journey. 00:07:13.279 --> 00:07:15.199 But so is reward. 00:07:16.240 --> 00:07:24.079 Reward is a powerful motive and a powerful motivation towards faithfulness. 00:07:25.600 --> 00:07:37.040 Motivation and motive come into play in the Christian journey, which in the end will be evaluated at the judgment seat of the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:07:37.120 --> 00:07:47.519 And so this is of crucial importance that we as Christians consider our motives and what motivates us towards faithfulness. 00:07:48.560 --> 00:08:03.120 And we should keep this thought of reward as a means of motivating us to faithfulness in mind as we journey the earth as aliens and sojourners. 00:08:03.600 --> 00:08:08.240 Let me tell you how I'm going to explain this to you today. 00:08:15.680 --> 00:08:25.439 And in the end, I'm going to try and tie it all together in this passage that we read this morning, 2 Corinthians 5, verses 9 and 10. 00:08:26.079 --> 00:08:33.279 You see, when it comes to the Christian life, the Lord rewards faithfulness, not greatness. 00:08:34.000 --> 00:08:38.480 There is a heavy emphasis in Scripture on faithfulness. 00:08:38.799 --> 00:08:42.720 Faithfulness with reward, not success. 00:08:42.879 --> 00:08:54.240 You see, we always think in terms of the Lord will really reward the successful Christian or the really important Christian or the Christian who accomplished a lot. 00:08:54.399 --> 00:08:58.799 But really, what the Lord is rewarding is our faithfulness. 00:08:58.960 --> 00:09:01.679 So let me show you from Scripture. 00:09:01.919 --> 00:09:03.519 Are those big enough to read? 00:09:03.600 --> 00:09:09.360 I can hardly read them on that screen, but maybe I just die, you're in power. 00:09:09.759 --> 00:09:10.080 Okay. 00:09:12.799 --> 00:09:13.120 Okay. 00:09:14.480 --> 00:09:15.279 Faithfulness. 00:09:15.440 --> 00:09:16.879 Let's look at faithfulness. 00:09:17.039 --> 00:09:21.840 And we're going to look at faithfulness in terms of eternal rewards. 00:09:22.000 --> 00:09:26.879 And probably the best illustration there is the parable of the talents. 00:09:27.519 --> 00:09:31.919 Matthew 25, verses 20 and 21. 00:09:34.080 --> 00:09:52.320 The one who had received the five talents came up and brought five more talents, saying, Master, you entrusted five talents to me, in parentheses, and you expected me to be faithful with those. 00:09:52.639 --> 00:09:56.960 See, I have gained five more talents. 00:10:01.279 --> 00:10:04.480 This was a reasonable outcome. 00:10:04.799 --> 00:10:12.159 And as we look at the context of Matthew 25, what is rewarded here is not greatness or success. 00:10:12.399 --> 00:10:16.799 What is rewarded here is faithfulness. 00:10:18.080 --> 00:10:36.960 In response to very modest gains here over the span of a lifetime, Jesus says in this parable in verse 21 of Matthew 25, his master said to him, Well done, good, and faithful. 00:10:37.120 --> 00:10:44.720 He doesn't say successful or impressive or high-performing slave, just faithful slave. 00:10:44.960 --> 00:10:45.919 You were what? 00:10:47.200 --> 00:10:48.240 Faithful. 00:10:48.960 --> 00:10:52.720 And so I will put you in charge of many things. 00:10:52.960 --> 00:10:55.039 Enter into the joy of your master. 00:10:55.279 --> 00:10:59.440 So here's the sense that faithfulness is rewarded. 00:11:00.159 --> 00:11:06.720 Let's turn back to last week's passage in First Corinthians, and I'll show you something else there. 00:11:08.960 --> 00:11:14.960 First Corinthians chapter four, verse two. 00:11:19.279 --> 00:11:29.840 In this case, moreover, moreover, it is required of stewards that one be found faithful. 00:11:30.000 --> 00:11:32.960 And some of your translations will read trustworthy. 00:11:33.039 --> 00:11:38.639 I like the ESB King James Version NIV, who uses the word faithful. 00:11:40.240 --> 00:11:50.240 Paul wants his audience to reconsider rewards and why they're working for the Lord. 00:11:51.120 --> 00:12:01.679 He wants for a moment to consider the motivation, because motivation and motive will impact faithfulness. 00:12:01.840 --> 00:12:03.200 Look at verse 5. 00:12:03.440 --> 00:12:11.200 He says they therefore do not go on passing judgment before time, but wait until the Lord comes, who will do what? 00:12:11.519 --> 00:12:16.080 Bring to light the things hidden in darkness and disclose the what? 00:12:16.480 --> 00:12:19.840 The motives of men's hearts. 00:12:20.159 --> 00:12:23.600 And each man's what will come from God? 00:12:24.480 --> 00:12:25.279 Praise. 00:12:25.519 --> 00:12:27.039 The reward will come. 00:12:27.200 --> 00:12:42.240 You see, at the judgment seat of Christ, works done with the right motive will be considered as faithful service that will be in the end duly rewarded. 00:12:42.480 --> 00:12:44.320 Each man's praise. 00:12:44.720 --> 00:12:48.960 It doesn't say each man's punishment, it says each man's praise. 00:12:49.200 --> 00:12:52.240 And I will tell you later on about that word praise. 00:12:52.399 --> 00:12:56.480 It is a very, very strong word, a word of reward. 00:12:56.639 --> 00:13:00.000 Now let's consider motives for a motive. 00:13:00.799 --> 00:13:02.720 For a moment, not for a motive. 00:13:02.879 --> 00:13:05.519 It's considered, well, that sounded good actually. 00:13:06.080 --> 00:13:10.960 Someone can be generous, for example, towards another person. 00:13:11.600 --> 00:13:14.960 But actually, they can be serving themselves. 00:13:15.519 --> 00:13:20.080 Like being noticed by other people as being generous. 00:13:20.399 --> 00:13:20.799 Right? 00:13:21.039 --> 00:13:27.200 Somebody does something and they're like, I hope really they think I'm a very generous person here. 00:13:27.679 --> 00:13:40.159 Our motives and our motivation for any work, ministry, mission, act of generosity, or display of kindness can be very well being noticeably pious. 00:13:40.480 --> 00:13:49.840 But inwardly, the motives and the motivation for doing it is merely self-serving and pleasing to self. 00:13:51.759 --> 00:13:58.559 Let's think about motives and motivation in light of faithfulness and reward. 00:13:59.279 --> 00:14:16.480 As we think of the Jews and the religious people of Jesus' time, the scribes, the Pharisees, and their ilk, John 12, 43 says they love the praises of men more than the praises of God. 00:14:20.480 --> 00:14:29.360 These folk were motivated by the accolades that they would receive in society. 00:14:30.399 --> 00:14:36.559 They loved the praises of God, the praises of men rather than the praises of God. 00:14:38.799 --> 00:14:42.080 Give you an example, Matthew 6, 1. 00:14:43.919 --> 00:14:55.200 It is noticeable that they prayed long prayers and they did good things to poor people, but they did it with this motivation of what? 00:14:56.080 --> 00:14:57.759 Being noticed. 00:14:58.000 --> 00:15:03.759 There is something off with the motive and the motivation. 00:15:05.440 --> 00:15:11.840 Outwardly pious, but inwardly they want a pat on the back. 00:15:13.600 --> 00:15:16.080 Look at Matthew 6:1 there. 00:15:16.720 --> 00:15:22.720 Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be what? 00:15:23.679 --> 00:15:25.360 Noticed by them. 00:15:25.519 --> 00:15:27.840 That is a dangerous thing. 00:15:28.960 --> 00:15:35.440 Whether you do missions or ministry or serve at a soup kitchen, beware. 00:15:35.840 --> 00:15:38.960 Do not do it to be noticed by people. 00:15:39.279 --> 00:15:40.960 Otherwise, you have what? 00:15:42.399 --> 00:15:47.679 No reward with your Father who is in heaven. 00:15:48.480 --> 00:16:00.159 The warning here is to the followers of Jesus, the serious people, to do good things, but not with the wrong motives, like the religious leaders do. 00:16:01.519 --> 00:16:02.159 Why? 00:16:02.960 --> 00:16:08.159 Because motive impacts one's reward. 00:16:09.919 --> 00:16:16.799 Humble, righteous, holy actions can often be done with unholy motives. 00:16:17.600 --> 00:16:19.600 Selfish motives. 00:16:19.919 --> 00:16:25.919 Flesh-pleasing motives to be noticed by others' motives. 00:16:27.919 --> 00:16:39.360 Here is a warning about what appears to be faithfulness on the outside, but is nothing more than an ostentatious display of pride. 00:16:40.799 --> 00:16:45.200 Notice in verse 2 there of Matthew 6 what Jesus says here. 00:16:46.879 --> 00:16:52.159 So when you give to the poor, that is a pretty good thing, right? 00:16:52.960 --> 00:17:06.799 Do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be honored by men. 00:17:07.839 --> 00:17:17.680 So again, they doing these things to be noticed, these things to get the pat on the back and say, Oh, you are such an inspiration to us. 00:17:17.920 --> 00:17:18.720 Well, thank you. 00:17:18.799 --> 00:17:21.440 I don't try to be an inspiration. 00:17:21.599 --> 00:17:26.400 But nevertheless, Jesus says, Well, they have their reward. 00:17:26.559 --> 00:17:39.440 There's a reward for these guys who do religious things to get something out of it for themselves, like to be noticed or to be honored. 00:17:39.759 --> 00:17:42.319 Jesus says, they have their honor. 00:17:42.559 --> 00:17:44.000 They have their reward. 00:17:44.160 --> 00:17:45.440 Where is their reward? 00:17:46.960 --> 00:17:48.000 The end of verse 2. 00:17:48.160 --> 00:17:51.680 Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. 00:17:51.759 --> 00:17:57.200 And you can put that in parentheses in this present life. 00:17:58.400 --> 00:18:00.640 They do it to be noticed, guess what? 00:18:00.799 --> 00:18:02.720 Your reward is, you'll be noticed. 00:18:02.880 --> 00:18:06.319 If you're doing something around here to impress people, guess what? 00:18:06.640 --> 00:18:08.880 People will be impressed. 00:18:09.519 --> 00:18:10.960 And that's your reward. 00:18:11.119 --> 00:18:14.319 That is your complete reward. 00:18:15.839 --> 00:18:20.160 Now let's make a few quick observations here as to what Jesus is saying. 00:18:20.319 --> 00:18:31.519 He says here they have their reward, but it will not be an eternal reward, but rather a temporal reward, something that will fade away. 00:18:31.839 --> 00:18:35.680 They will be rewarded, but not by God. 00:18:36.160 --> 00:18:39.440 God will not be the reward or people will. 00:18:40.000 --> 00:18:51.039 And number three, their character, their character and conduct would not be rewarded by Jesus because it will not be considered faithful. 00:18:51.440 --> 00:18:56.799 And therefore, it will not be considered pleasing to the Lord. 00:18:58.799 --> 00:19:10.319 You see, these religious hypocrites, their ambition was about pleasing people and pleasing themselves. 00:19:10.559 --> 00:19:13.039 The higher priority was not God. 00:19:13.599 --> 00:19:22.880 And my dear brothers and sisters, dearly beloved, perhaps here is a moment that we should ponder and think. 00:19:24.160 --> 00:19:37.119 That the Lord knows everything about us, every detail, every thought, every word, every deed, every work, every secret thing. 00:19:37.839 --> 00:19:42.079 And the Bible says everything will be judged accordingly. 00:19:42.480 --> 00:20:02.240 Now, Lord indeed, when he comes, will bring to light the things hidden in darkness, and he will also put to grand display your motives and motivations for doing something, even if it's a good thing. 00:20:02.960 --> 00:20:05.519 He will put it on grand display. 00:20:05.680 --> 00:20:12.000 That's why we are not to judge each other too quickly, because we do not know the motives of the heart. 00:20:12.079 --> 00:20:19.599 But as 1 Corinthians 5.5 says, Christ will put the motives of the heart to display. 00:20:19.839 --> 00:20:24.799 And then each man's praise will come to him from God. 00:20:25.440 --> 00:20:28.640 And that word praise is a very interesting word. 00:20:28.720 --> 00:20:39.200 It's an interesting Greek word because it speaks of recognition, to receive a commendation, an applause. 00:20:39.359 --> 00:20:44.400 It's often used of a word applauding somebody. 00:20:44.880 --> 00:20:56.640 And so what is Paul saying here is there will be a commendation, a reward, an applause for faithful service coming at the judgment seat of Christ. 00:20:56.880 --> 00:21:07.440 And so, dear brothers and sisters, whatever act of altruism, humility, generosity, it may in fact receive recognition. 00:21:07.599 --> 00:21:13.119 Maybe not at this point in life, but certainly at the end of time. 00:21:14.319 --> 00:21:16.400 However, there's a caveat. 00:21:17.359 --> 00:21:24.400 The compass needle of the heart must always point to the pleasure of God. 00:21:26.160 --> 00:21:32.559 We must make sure that we are God pleasers, not people pleasers. 00:21:33.200 --> 00:21:36.880 Or else we will have our praises and reward here. 00:21:40.240 --> 00:21:51.839 We need to reconsider perhaps our ambitions, our motivations, our passions, whether they are pleasing to the Lord at all times. 00:21:53.119 --> 00:21:59.599 People pleasers have a hard time with this because they are so after the reward. 00:22:00.160 --> 00:22:01.200 Here and now. 00:22:02.240 --> 00:22:07.119 If I do this, that person over there will be impressed with me. 00:22:07.440 --> 00:22:09.920 That's a good reward. 00:22:10.079 --> 00:22:11.279 No, not actually. 00:22:11.519 --> 00:22:13.519 It is not a good reward. 00:22:15.359 --> 00:22:37.039 At the judgment seat of Christ, whatever good thing we did, whether it was going on a short term missions trip, whether it was doing ministry or some act of mercy or some kindness, Jesus will put on grand display the motive of our hearts. 00:22:38.960 --> 00:22:46.160 He will not just judge what we did, but why we did it. 00:22:47.200 --> 00:22:57.119 I remember many years ago I was at a school function and they had a dentist there, a retired dentist, come to speak to us about missions. 00:22:57.920 --> 00:23:05.599 And he was telling us all about the good things he was doing in Nicaragua and Honduras and all the kind things. 00:23:06.319 --> 00:23:08.319 And you're waiting here for the punchline. 00:23:08.720 --> 00:23:10.799 Why did he do it? 00:23:11.119 --> 00:23:17.359 And I'm just so excited because he's going to inspire these kids to do the same. 00:23:17.680 --> 00:23:23.839 And in the end, he says, I do it because it makes me feel good. 00:23:24.720 --> 00:23:30.000 And I wonder, is that a good motive to feel good? 00:23:30.240 --> 00:23:31.599 What is the reward? 00:23:31.839 --> 00:23:33.440 I want to feel good. 00:23:34.160 --> 00:23:44.559 I wonder if that will be considered as faithful service, but then in the end, Jesus says, do not be quick to judge. 00:23:45.440 --> 00:23:48.640 Let's turn to 2 Corinthians chapter 5. 00:23:48.799 --> 00:23:50.160 Let's go back there. 00:23:50.960 --> 00:23:53.279 2 Corinthians 5. 00:23:54.400 --> 00:23:59.920 Because I want to connect all these passages on the judgment seat of Christ. 00:24:05.839 --> 00:24:24.400 So as you can think of 1 Corinthians chapter 4, it mainly speaks about not only what we do, but why we do it, and that will be duly judged and rewarded. 00:24:24.640 --> 00:24:30.880 But let's think about this idea of reward a little further as we look at 1 2 Corinthians 5 10. 00:24:31.119 --> 00:24:40.480 It says, For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be what? 00:24:43.920 --> 00:24:58.559 Recompensed, so that we might, that each one may be recompensed and hang on to that word, for his deeds in the body according to what he has done, whether good or bad. 00:25:01.680 --> 00:25:14.319 Let's look in light of eternity, this idea of reward and to do things with the right motive and right motivation. 00:25:15.839 --> 00:25:17.200 Let me say this. 00:25:17.519 --> 00:25:28.799 Every time you speak about the judgment seat of Christ, it is not speaking of judgment unto condemnation, but rather judgment unto compensation. 00:25:30.559 --> 00:25:31.200 Why? 00:25:31.920 --> 00:25:34.720 What does Romans 8.1 say to us? 00:25:35.599 --> 00:25:41.440 Those who are in Christ, therefore there is no more condemnation. 00:25:41.599 --> 00:25:46.799 You are not being judged in terms of condemnation or salvation. 00:25:47.039 --> 00:25:54.480 You are being judged as a believer in Christ in the end for your faithfulness. 00:25:54.880 --> 00:26:02.480 And it's not a judgment unto condemnation, but rather a judgment unto compensation. 00:26:06.319 --> 00:26:11.680 The Christian will appear before the judgment seat of Christ, period. 00:26:12.079 --> 00:26:13.920 You can't reason that away. 00:26:14.079 --> 00:26:26.240 We will all appear before Jesus, where he will judge what we did with our lives here on this planet. 00:26:26.559 --> 00:26:33.200 And he will probably judge you from the moment that you were saved onwards. 00:26:37.119 --> 00:26:49.599 And he will evaluate what you did with your life as a Christian, as a believer, and he will not punish you, but reward you. 00:26:50.240 --> 00:26:54.799 There's no sense here in terms of punishment in verse 10. 00:26:55.200 --> 00:27:04.960 It speaks of a judgment, an a judgment for believers exclusively, and it's a judgment for compensation, not common condemnation. 00:27:05.119 --> 00:27:07.200 The Greek word there is very specific. 00:27:07.279 --> 00:27:13.440 That word recompense is all over the Bible, Old Testament and New Testament. 00:27:14.480 --> 00:27:17.839 The Greek word here is komitsomi, kommitsomai. 00:27:17.920 --> 00:27:19.039 It sounds like commission. 00:27:19.119 --> 00:27:21.039 And I thought that's not a bad idea. 00:27:21.200 --> 00:27:26.079 And it entails the receiving of something as a payment. 00:27:27.039 --> 00:27:33.039 In the Greek sense, it was used for the payback of a loan with interest. 00:27:35.200 --> 00:27:44.000 It is like the payment of a person's salary plus a year and bonus or commission added to the check. 00:27:44.160 --> 00:27:46.720 That is what it's speaking about here. 00:27:48.480 --> 00:27:52.240 That same word is used in Ephesians 6 8. 00:27:52.960 --> 00:28:02.480 Knowing that whatever good thing each one does, good thing each one does, this he will receive back. 00:28:02.880 --> 00:28:04.960 There's a commission payback. 00:28:05.680 --> 00:28:11.359 A payback plus interest from the Lord, whether you're a slave or free. 00:28:12.079 --> 00:28:12.720 Wow. 00:28:13.279 --> 00:28:14.880 This is profound. 00:28:16.480 --> 00:28:34.079 Knowing that whatever good thing each one does, of course, with the caveat, with the right motive and out of the right motivation, he will receive payback from the Lord. 00:28:34.319 --> 00:28:37.279 And whether you're a slave or a free person, doesn't matter. 00:28:37.839 --> 00:28:44.799 Whether you're the CEO of a company or the sweeper of a floor, you will get your payback from Jesus. 00:28:45.599 --> 00:28:56.880 Luke 18, 3, Jesus says, whatever thing you do, whatever good thing you do, you will receive back in this time and the age to come. 00:28:57.039 --> 00:29:06.960 There's no sacrifice that you or I will make in this life for Jesus Christ that He will not pay back plus interest. 00:29:09.200 --> 00:29:11.440 I can give you an example of that. 00:29:11.839 --> 00:29:17.680 I came here in 2004 to the United States to receive a seminary training. 00:29:18.079 --> 00:29:23.200 I had a meager amount of money saved up over a period of 10 years. 00:29:23.680 --> 00:29:30.799 I put that money, all that I had, and I put it aside and I said, we're going to the United States, my wife. 00:29:30.880 --> 00:29:37.359 And I've got this amount of money set aside for my studies, my seminary training. 00:29:37.759 --> 00:29:43.920 And in the back of my mind, Jesus, you know, I'm giving a lot here. 00:29:44.319 --> 00:29:46.319 This is costing me a lot. 00:29:46.720 --> 00:29:58.400 So I go through four and a half years of seminary training, and in the end on the last day, I wrote my last exam, I get a call from a gentleman. 00:29:58.640 --> 00:30:02.720 And this guy says, Come over to my house, I wanted to talk things through with you. 00:30:02.799 --> 00:30:03.839 I'm like, what? 00:30:03.920 --> 00:30:06.240 Did I do something wrong here or whatever? 00:30:06.480 --> 00:30:10.240 He gives me a check and he says, I don't want to ever talk about this. 00:30:10.480 --> 00:30:11.839 Well, he gives me an envelope. 00:30:11.920 --> 00:30:13.599 He just says, I don't want to talk about this. 00:30:13.680 --> 00:30:16.160 And I thought, well, this is going to be a scathing rebuke. 00:30:16.319 --> 00:30:19.920 I get in the car, open up the check, the envelope. 00:30:20.079 --> 00:30:21.200 There's a check. 00:30:21.440 --> 00:30:26.799 The check is for the exact same amount that I came with to the United States. 00:30:26.960 --> 00:30:30.880 And here, in a sense, Jesus is giving back. 00:30:31.200 --> 00:30:36.000 I didn't give anything that he wouldn't give back. 00:30:36.160 --> 00:30:42.000 There's no sacrifice that he will not pay back with interest. 00:30:44.720 --> 00:30:57.279 He says in Luke 18, 30, whatever you sacrifice, you may get some of it back now, but you will for sure give everything back. 00:30:58.079 --> 00:31:00.880 He will give everything back with interest. 00:31:01.359 --> 00:31:03.039 So, what have we learned so far? 00:31:03.279 --> 00:31:07.279 Faithfulness with the right motive will ultimately be rewarded. 00:31:07.519 --> 00:31:12.079 Faithfulness, not greatness, will be rewarded. 00:31:13.279 --> 00:31:23.440 Faithful motives and faithful motivations oriented towards being pleasing to the Lord, that will ultimately be rewarded. 00:31:24.319 --> 00:31:32.720 The reward for faithfulness should be a motivation and a motivator. 00:31:32.960 --> 00:31:39.200 And you would go, Anton, you you don't put this carrot in front of us. 00:31:40.319 --> 00:31:49.039 Don't get with this idea of we should serve and do things because we will get a reward from Jesus. 00:31:49.359 --> 00:31:52.000 That's the wrong motive, you would say. 00:31:53.440 --> 00:31:57.759 Should we not just be faithful regardless of reward? 00:32:00.480 --> 00:32:03.599 Well, see how far that takes you. 00:32:04.240 --> 00:32:06.079 I'll give you an example. 00:32:07.359 --> 00:32:09.759 Hope my wife still talks to me afterwards. 00:32:09.839 --> 00:32:15.680 But in any case, the the one day we went to this pastor's conference, okay. 00:32:16.319 --> 00:32:22.240 And we walk like pastors, talk talk pastors, greet like pastors, and whatever. 00:32:22.640 --> 00:32:27.440 And uh we in this hotel, and we like at the top floor, and we go down. 00:32:27.920 --> 00:32:40.559 And my wife is telling me how prideful I was, and that I have no humility in me, and that I'm responding with pride, not humility, to the things that she pointed out to me. 00:32:40.799 --> 00:32:56.079 And so here we get to the fourth floor, and the district pastor, the kind of the high-up guy, walks into the elevator with his wife, and he says, Hey, Anton, the most humble man I know. 00:32:58.960 --> 00:33:04.000 And I'm like, Yes! Vindicated in this life. 00:33:05.599 --> 00:33:12.240 And just to seal the deal, I said to him, Well, you should ask my wife. 00:33:12.400 --> 00:33:14.880 She doesn't quite agree with you here. 00:33:16.079 --> 00:33:18.400 And then it even gets sweeter. 00:33:20.079 --> 00:33:27.519 He says, and Anton, when we tell you you are humble, you respond with more humility. 00:33:27.680 --> 00:33:29.200 And I thought, yes. 00:33:31.440 --> 00:33:34.480 We did not talk for the next three floors. 00:33:39.200 --> 00:33:50.000 You see, this idea of reward as a motivation, I think, is what keeps us going. 00:33:51.279 --> 00:33:56.319 People will say, Well, I gotta sorry for the Lord Jesus Christ because He did so much for me. 00:33:56.400 --> 00:33:57.759 I need to be thankful. 00:33:57.920 --> 00:34:00.240 It's all a matter of gratitude. 00:34:00.559 --> 00:34:04.480 Yeah, have you got kids and have you had Christmas? 00:34:04.799 --> 00:34:08.960 How quick does that that gratitude thing wear out? 00:34:09.360 --> 00:34:10.960 Okay, put away the papers. 00:34:11.039 --> 00:34:12.159 Let's pick up the papers. 00:34:12.320 --> 00:34:14.559 Ah, I don't want to do this, I'm tired. 00:34:14.800 --> 00:34:16.719 Well, I just gave you a lot of gifts. 00:34:16.960 --> 00:34:23.119 How many, how many lippers that got cleansed by Jesus came back to be thankful? 00:34:23.280 --> 00:34:24.159 Just tell me. 00:34:24.800 --> 00:34:25.840 One out of who? 00:34:26.000 --> 00:34:26.559 How many? 00:34:26.800 --> 00:34:27.039 Ten. 00:34:27.360 --> 00:34:29.840 Okay, so statistically, we don't do too well. 00:34:30.000 --> 00:34:32.079 We need a little more motivation. 00:34:32.559 --> 00:34:34.320 We need a little more motivation. 00:34:34.559 --> 00:34:45.280 This idea of an eternal reward is a good motivation because and a good motivator to serve faithfully because it is a matter of faith. 00:34:45.840 --> 00:34:49.599 Go home and take me up on this offer. 00:34:51.840 --> 00:35:00.960 See if it is easy to believe in this thing that Jesus will pay us back with interest, that he will reward us. 00:35:01.039 --> 00:35:04.559 Try and put your mind around this idea of reward. 00:35:04.880 --> 00:35:06.320 It's a matter of faith. 00:35:06.480 --> 00:35:09.679 It is a matter of faith, not uh side. 00:35:09.760 --> 00:35:13.440 It takes a strong faith to conceive this idea of reward. 00:35:13.519 --> 00:35:15.840 So it is not works, it's a faith. 00:35:21.280 --> 00:35:34.159 When we give something up, when we make a sacrifice for Jesus, remind yourself of Mark 10, 30, he will give you back some in this life, but mostly in the life to come. 00:35:34.400 --> 00:35:42.960 Secondly, faithfulness and reward is not a matter of sheer human willpower. 00:35:43.360 --> 00:35:49.679 Do you think we can just be faithful because we decided, we made a decision that we want to be faithful? 00:35:49.920 --> 00:35:54.079 Come on, let's let's let's not fool ourselves. 00:35:54.719 --> 00:35:57.840 We are people who are driven by reward. 00:35:57.920 --> 00:35:59.119 That's who we are. 00:35:59.920 --> 00:36:04.639 We can't pick chocolate from vanilla without making some calculations. 00:36:05.920 --> 00:36:11.679 Even when I'm at my peak of altruism, I would go to my wife and say, honey, can I get you some ice cream? 00:36:11.760 --> 00:36:13.599 And she's like, Oh, you're such a servant. 00:36:13.760 --> 00:36:22.400 And as I scoop the ice cream out, I pick out the ice cream with the most chocolate pieces in, right? 00:36:22.639 --> 00:36:24.000 Or I weigh it. 00:36:24.239 --> 00:36:26.400 I don't like, right? 00:36:27.199 --> 00:36:34.559 There's no, we we always act in in the sense of what will be rewarding to us. 00:36:34.719 --> 00:36:51.039 But this matter, this reward here, should be something labored for and in utter dependence on the grace of Jesus Christ and in the power of the Holy Spirit. 00:36:51.360 --> 00:37:06.960 Paul says to Timothy, encouraging him to faithfulness, in 2 Timothy 2.1, he says, before you can think about faithfulness, you've got to think about being strong in the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. 00:37:07.679 --> 00:37:11.280 This is not a matter of sheer will. 00:37:11.599 --> 00:37:22.000 This is a matter of depending on the grace of Jesus and surrendering ourselves to the power of the Holy Spirit. 00:37:23.119 --> 00:37:33.519 Thirdly, do you perceive from the passages that we read here that Jesus is a threatening master or a rewarding master? 00:37:33.679 --> 00:37:37.599 How does he want to be perceived by his followers? 00:37:37.840 --> 00:37:42.960 One who says, I'm gonna get you if you don't? 00:37:43.599 --> 00:37:47.840 Or is he one who says, I'm gonna give to you if you do? 00:37:49.679 --> 00:37:50.800 You think about this. 00:37:50.960 --> 00:37:54.320 Jesus is not the threatening master. 00:37:54.719 --> 00:38:08.079 He does not motivate us by fear of punishment, loss, or some, well, you'll you'll lose your salvation if you don't. 00:38:10.880 --> 00:38:15.440 No, he's a master that rewards faithful servants. 00:38:15.599 --> 00:38:21.679 Our Lord is indeed not a threatening master, but a rewarding master, period. 00:38:22.800 --> 00:38:39.119 You see, General Eisenhower wanted to make a strong statement by executing it Slavic, so that the prospect of death by firing squad would serve as a motivator to faithfulness. 00:38:40.320 --> 00:38:43.199 How did that work out for the Allied forces? 00:38:43.360 --> 00:38:44.800 Let me tell you this. 00:38:45.360 --> 00:38:49.599 Around 50,000 American soldiers deserted. 00:38:50.159 --> 00:38:54.000 Over 100,000 British soldiers deserted. 00:38:55.519 --> 00:39:07.360 150,000 Allied troops were unfaithful to the call of duty and deserted regardless of the prospect of firing squad. 00:39:09.280 --> 00:39:15.119 These deserters were not motivated by threats. 00:39:16.639 --> 00:39:22.079 They were motivated by the prospect of pleasure. 00:39:22.639 --> 00:39:32.159 It is said that these deserters simply fell into the arms of some French or Italian woman while others became black market pirates. 00:39:33.199 --> 00:39:35.599 We gotta think about motivation. 00:39:37.920 --> 00:39:40.719 And what is a good motivator? 00:39:41.519 --> 00:39:46.000 Reward is a good motivator, and Jesus uses reward. 00:39:46.239 --> 00:40:02.159 If you were the owner of a company and you had two sales managers, and each sales manager wants to inspire loyalty and faithfulness to the company, who do you think would you favor? 00:40:02.559 --> 00:40:13.519 The despotic, unreasonable sales manager who believes that threatening his salespeople with punishment or job loss will be the best motivator? 00:40:13.760 --> 00:40:23.840 Or do you think the generous sales manager who motivates his sales team with the prospect of a fat commission payout at the end of the quarter? 00:40:24.000 --> 00:40:26.719 Which one do you think will have the most success? 00:40:26.880 --> 00:40:30.000 I've worked for both of them, I can tell you. 00:40:56.880 --> 00:40:59.440 That is how he viewed Jesus. 00:41:00.239 --> 00:41:02.480 What did he do with the talent? 00:41:02.719 --> 00:41:05.519 Was he faithful with that single talent? 00:41:06.000 --> 00:41:09.599 He wrapped it in a banke and he buried it. 00:41:09.920 --> 00:41:11.119 He was unfaithful. 00:41:11.360 --> 00:41:22.079 Even the fear of reprisal, of punishment from a despotic master did not motivate him an inch towards faithfulness. 00:41:22.880 --> 00:41:29.920 So fear is not a good motivator, and Jesus does not use fear as a motivator. 00:41:31.679 --> 00:41:36.960 He buried the talent, Matthew 25, 25. 00:41:37.760 --> 00:41:47.519 But in Matthew 25, 23, to those who were faithful, he says, faithful slave, I will give you more. 00:41:48.880 --> 00:41:53.519 That's a generous master, not a despotic master. 00:41:54.079 --> 00:41:56.559 I gave you five, what did you give me back? 00:41:56.719 --> 00:41:57.599 Five more. 00:41:58.400 --> 00:42:00.800 Well, that's a hundred percent increase. 00:42:01.039 --> 00:42:04.800 I want five hundred percent, lousy loser. 00:42:05.119 --> 00:42:07.360 That's not what Jesus is saying. 00:42:07.679 --> 00:42:11.280 He's just merely looking at faithfulness and it rewards faithfulness. 00:42:11.440 --> 00:42:15.360 Let me take you here to a verse that you've been looking at up there. 00:42:16.400 --> 00:42:18.159 1 Samuel 26, 23. 00:42:18.320 --> 00:42:19.679 Finally, David's time come. 00:42:20.079 --> 00:42:25.280 Saul falls into his hands, he's gonna slit his throat or not. 00:42:25.679 --> 00:42:29.679 Look at what motivated David to do the right thing. 00:42:29.920 --> 00:42:32.159 1 Samuel 26, 23. 00:42:32.559 --> 00:42:40.559 The Lord repay each man for his righteousness and his faithfulness. 00:42:40.719 --> 00:42:50.320 For that the Lord delivered you into my hand today, but I refuse to stretch out my hand against the Lord's anointed. 00:42:51.199 --> 00:42:52.320 This is a good example. 00:42:53.280 --> 00:42:53.760 You know what? 00:42:53.840 --> 00:42:55.599 I'm gonna wait for the payout here. 00:42:55.760 --> 00:42:57.760 I'll let God deal with this matter here. 00:42:58.000 --> 00:43:00.960 He will take care of this rascal called soul. 00:43:01.199 --> 00:43:05.199 But I'm motivated by this prospect of being rewarded by God. 00:43:05.440 --> 00:43:05.599 C. 00:43:05.840 --> 00:43:05.920 S. 00:43:06.000 --> 00:43:13.519 Lewis wrote about the frailty and the fickleness of the human nature and our lack of motivation. 00:43:15.440 --> 00:43:19.840 And he says, where there's uh no reward, there's no motivation. 00:43:21.599 --> 00:43:41.840 He says, if we consider the unblushing promises of reward and the staggering nature of the rewards promised in the gospel, it would seem that our Lord finds our desires and motivation not all too strong, but rather all too weak. 00:43:44.480 --> 00:43:54.400 Doesn't that say something about the Lord Jesus that knows that we are people who generally go the extra mile if there's the prospect of reward? 00:43:54.559 --> 00:43:59.440 And if it's a heavenly reward, it's not a bad prospect, right? 00:44:00.480 --> 00:44:02.159