I Corinthians 3:14
“If anyone’s work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward.”
Rewards is an illusive concept to me. My concern while young was making it into heaven. That helped lead me to Christ. Once born again, I was promised heaven. That weight was lifted. I’ve read in several passages about getting rewards and earning crowns. It doesn’t get me interested. I’m sure it’s due to a lack of understanding.
This passage refers to a foundation. Paul built that. The foundation is Jesus, so it might be more accurate to say he introduced us to it (Him). It seems to be one foundation. A few verses later we are called the temple of the God. In Matthew 7:24 Jesus said, “Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.” Is this saying that we will have our own houses instead of a few rooms in palace? I Peter 2:5 says, “you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”
What is exciting is building into the lives of others. Helping them mature in Christ or pointing the way. I would assume there are rewards for that.
God is concerned about our hearts. What’s our motive? Jesus said in Matthew 6:3, “But when you give to the poor, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your charitable giving will be in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.” He doesn’t want us to exalt ourselves.
Mark 8:34 says, ‘Then Jesus called the crowd to Him along with His disciples, and He told them, “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me.”‘ I’m sure this confused me when I first heart it. Now it resonates with me. I don’t have a desire to exalt myself.
On occasion He honors us. Psalm 23 says, “Thou preparest a table for me in the presence of my enemies”. It’s His joy to do so. We don’t prompt it. In His time.
Thank You, Lord, for Your blessings. Even thought I don’t resonate presently with the future rewards, I’m sure they will be a blessing. Thank You.