"and that you, O Lord, are loving. Surely you will reward each person according to what he has done." (Psalms 62:12)
A reward may refer to:
Bounty (reward), a reward, often money, offered as an incentive
Reward website, a website that offers rewards for performing tasks
Reward system, a collection of brain structures which induce pleasurable effects
Loyalty program, marketing efforts that reward local buying behaviour
In my quest to wipe away the fuzz, on a question posted by my friend Pete, I begin my research by exploring the many definitions of reward. When I thought about the question a bit more, Other questions Begin to pop up:
- Is my pay check considered a reward at the end of the month?
- Long hours of training to win a triathlon race?
- Acknowledgement for serving in ministry at my church?
- Reward pts/frequent flyer miles 4 charging on my credit card?
- Expecting rewards in heaven or on earth?
- The experiences of persevering through a difficult time
- The relationships I build with fellow athletes
- The knowledge of improving ones health
- Pushing my body to meet the challenge
- Ultimately participating and completing a race.
Would you train for a race if you didn't know there was a reward at the end? Depends on what the reward is. I've run races just for the sake of spending time with friends not for a personal trophy or to improve my race time.
I agree with Pete, when he says "we shouldn't be working toward rewards, but rather doing things just because they are right in the sight of God. The idea of working toward a personal reward (even a delayed one) seems counter to the selfless example of Jesus Christ."
If you knew you were going to get that reward at the end no matter what, would you still train for it? ... What is your motivation?
What are your thoughts?
2 comments:
Wow, nice thoughts! I think it helped me shed some light on the situation. So let me see if I understand you correctly. It appears you are focusing on the definition of the word "rewards" and saying that it can mean many different things. It also appears that you are alluding to the idea that rewards could simply be knowing that you did the will of God to the best of your ability. So that rewards in heaven may not be some kind of tangible thing nor something we on earth may think of as a reward, but rather a kind of heavenly, godly reward, the kind of reward that is more spiritual in nature. Is that what you're thinking?
Yes, in a way. God can reward us in many different ways. From the mercy & grace in our lives to Gods awsome promises of sharing that reward(love) with others. Another example would be a Father who sacrifices his ministry working at the church to minister to his Family. Reward would be that his children come to love the Lord and serve in full time ministry. In this case the reward is passed on to his children. What other selfless works did Jesus do? What are some of the rewards that we can expect to receive, or not?
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