Keeping Your Reward

Keeping Your Reward

“Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven.” Matt. 6:1.

It is written that Jesus “for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame . . . .” Heb. 12:2. And about Moses it is written that he esteemed “the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt . . . [and] looked to the reward.” Heb. 11:26.

We notice that both Jesus and Moses endured in the sufferings when they thought of the reward. This is precisely what we also need to do, but then we have to live so that we can look forward to the reward, and not live in such a way that we receive the reward on this earth.

The certainty of receiving a reward gives us great strength in our sufferings, whereas seeking our reward here diminishes the possibility of receiving strength and any future reward. When light shines into our heart, the Spirit compels us to live according to the light. The light shall become our personal possession; the light shall shine from us. We can compare this work of God in us to the farmer who plows and harrows and sows. Once he is finished, he waits patiently for the fruit, which is meant for other people. He can take the fruit to market, but not the seed. We shall not make a show of it in front of people to be seen by them as to how we are instructed in righteousness unto life and doctrine. Our life is hidden with Christ in God. Col. 3:3. Imagine if the farmer sold the seed, then he would have nothing to wait for, and this can be compared to Jesus’ word, “Otherwise you have no reward.”

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matt. 5:16. Then God’s light has become our light; we have been molded to be like Jesus to some degree.

This is what people need to see, and also what they shall hear about, and what we also ought to proclaim to them. “I am a debtor both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to wise and to unwise.” Rom. 1:14. “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the light [NASB] is in all goodness, righteousness and truth) . . . .” Eph. 5:8-9 [emphasis added].

What is it that tempts us to do righteousness before the eyes of men? It is the desire for the favor of man. We have not been liberated from people; we seek their honor, and so we boast and become puffed up. It may also be weakness; we can’t manage to speak God’s word without feeling that people look up to us and like to hear us.

In both instances, we have received our reward and have nothing to look forward to.

On the other hand, the person who does not want to be seen is like the bride in Song of Solomon 4:12: A garden enclosed, a spring shut up, and like the seraphim who had six wings: with four wings they covered themselves and with two wings they flew. Isa. 6:2. They have their reward waiting for them, which gives them unnatural strength to continue to suffer according to God’s will.