2 Corinthians 5:10 (NKJV) For we must all appear before the judgement seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.
The Greek word for “judgement seat of Christ” is bema in the above Scripture. It refers to a platform for awarding victors in athletic games. The Judgement seat, therefore, was not for judging whether someone was guilty or not, but a seat of reward.
This verse gives us a picture of what will happen to all Christians on the Day of Judgement. We can be very confident on that day if we conscientiously work on how we will face God at the judgment seat now, while we still have time.
The judgement seat of Christ is for Christians only, and God will assess everyone’s work based on our obedience and faithfulness in doing the work and administering the gifts, talents, and resources that God has entrusted to us.
1 Corinthians 3:10-13 (NKJV) According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is.
The Day of Judgement will also reveal the true motives behind our service. Some have served out of selfish reasons, while others have served with sincere hearts. Wood, hay, and straw represent superficial service driven by selfish motives, seeking human praise, or relying on our own strength. Only the Lord knows the true intent of our service, but on the Day of Judgement, we will all know whether it will be consumed and go up in smoke.
Therefore, we need to examine our hearts to understand why we serve in the ministry. Each person’s work will be uncovered and become clear on the day when it is tested by fire. The type of work that endures must be crafted from gold, silver, and precious stones. Those works, performed with a pure heart, sincere motives, and love for God, are the kind that the Lord will bless on that day.
In these kinds of work, workers might not be paid, recognised, or even appreciated by others, since we live in a broken and imperfect world. The worker might feel forgotten, unacknowledged, or unappreciated. However, God has recorded everything done out of love and a pure heart, for which we will receive a reward from the Lord.
Sermon Series： Giving out of a heart of gratitude
以清洁的心事奉
哥林多后书 5:10 因为我们众人必要在基督台前显露出来，叫各人按着本身所行的，或善或恶受报。
在以上经文中，“基督的审判台”一词在希腊文中是 bēma，指的是体育竞技中颁奖用的平台。因此，这里的审判台并不是用来判定一个人是否有罪，而是一个赏赐的座位。
这节经文向我们描绘了所有基督徒在审判之日将要面对的情景。如果我们现在就认真省察自己，将来如何站立在神的审判台前，那么在那一天，我们便可以满有把握、坦然无惧。
基督的审判台是为基督徒预备的。神将按着我们在所托付的事工中，是否忠心顺服，如何运用祂所赐的恩赐、才干和资源，来评估每一个人的工作。
哥林多前书 3:10-13 我照神所给我的恩，好像一个聪明的工头立好了根基，有别人在上面建造，只是各人要谨慎怎样在上面建造。因为那已经立好的根基就是耶稣基督，此外没有人能立别的根基。若有人用金、银、宝石、草、木、禾秸在这根基上建造， 各人的工程必然显露；因为那日子要将它表明出来，有火发现，这火要试验各人的工程怎样。
审判之日也将显明我们事奉背后的真实动机。有些人出于自私的原因而事奉，有些人则是怀着真诚的心。草木禾秸象征肤浅的事奉——或因自我动机、寻求人的称赞，或倚靠自己的力量而行。惟有主知道我们事奉的真正动机；但在那一日，我们都将清楚看见，我们的工程是否经得起火的考验，还是化为烟消云散。
因此，我们需要省察自己的内心，明白自己为何投身事奉。每个人的工作都会在那日被揭示，并在火中显明其真实价值。唯有用金、银和宝石建造的工程，才能存留。那些出于清洁的心、纯正的动机，以及对神的爱而完成的事工，才是主在那日所悦纳和赏赐的。
在这样的事奉中，工人或许得不到报酬、认可，甚至不被人看见；因为我们所处的世界是破碎而不完全的。事奉的人可能感到被遗忘、不被理解，或不被珍惜。然而，神已经记录下每一件出于爱与清洁之心所做的事，我们必从主那里得着赏赐。
讲章系列：出于感恩之心的奉献