Revelation 22:12 (NKJV) “And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work.
Let me ask you: “Why do you or don’t you serve?” Some of you might say, “I serve out of gratitude or out of love for people.” Meanwhile, some of you might say, “I don’t serve because I have no time” or “ I don’t see why I should”. Let me tell you a truth that the modern church often whispers but rarely shouts: God promises to reward you for your service. The Bible is not embarrassed by the motive of heavenly reward.
The reward we are discussing is inheritance, not our salvation. We are saved by grace, not by works. We are made righteous by the blood of Jesus Christ. We serve willingly because we are grateful for Jesus’ work of atonement and redemption for our sins through His blood. We are saved to do good works, including serving Him.
The opening Scripture contains the final words of Jesus in the Bible. He said, “I am coming soon, and My reward is with Me, to give to each one according to what he has done.” Jesus is not coming empty-handed, but with rewards in His hand!
Matthew 10:42 (NKJV) And whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward.”
Every cup of cold water given in His name is remembered; every time we serve or give at church events or on mission trips is recorded. God has recorded the ministry work of every believer. Nobody can serve on your behalf because heavenly rewards are non-transferable!
Matthew 6:19-20 (NKJV) “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.
God asks us to be good stewards of His money, and there is nothing wrong with investing the resources He has given us. But He doesn’t want our hearts to be focused on storing up riches, or else the love of money will draw us away from Him. God encourages us to commit our hearts to storing up treasures in heaven. He wants us to be heavenly-minded while being of earthly good at the same time.
While pursuing earthly treasures, some have experienced broken relationships and families, and some have not been able to enjoy the fruit of their labour because their lives were cut short by sickness or accident. Some of these treasures might be stolen, swindled, or devalued over time.
We spend much time working to be successful on this earth, but we have forgotten that we will spend eternity in heaven. Jesus wants us to serve with the end in mind.
Reflection: Are you driven more by temporary earthly success or by an eternal heavenly reward? How is God inviting you to respond to the truth that Jesus is coming to “give to every one according to their work”?
Sermon Series ： Investing in a Kingdom That Cannot Be Shaken
以终为始地服事
启示录 22:12 “看哪，我必快来！赏罚在我，要照各人所行的报应他。
让我问你一个问题：“你为什么服事？或者为什么不服事？”有些人可能会说：“我服事是出于感恩，或是出于对人的爱。”也有些人会说：“我不服事，因为我没有时间，或者我看不到服事的意义！”让我告诉你一个现代教会常常轻声提起、却很少大声宣讲的真理：神应许要赏赐你的服事。 圣经并不避讳“天上奖赏”这个动机。
我们现在所谈论的奖赏，是关乎“产业与赏赐”，而不是“救恩”。我们得救是本乎恩，也因着信，不是靠行为。我们因耶稣基督的宝血得称为义。我们甘心服事，是因为感恩耶稣借着祂的宝血，为我们的罪成就了救赎与赎罪之工。我们得救之后，也被呼召去行善，包括服事祂。
开头的经文是圣经中耶稣最后的话语之一。祂说：“我必快来，赏罚在我，要照各人所行的报应他。”耶稣再来时，并不是空手而来，而是手中带着赏赐而来！
马太福音 10:42 无论何人，因为门徒的名，只把一杯凉水给这小子里的一个喝，我实在告诉你们：这人不能不得赏赐。”
奉主名所献上的每一杯凉水，神都记念；每一次在教会活动中的服事、每一次参与短宣或奉献，天上都有记录。神已经记下每一个信徒所做的服事工作。没有人能够代替你服事，因为天上的赏赐是不能转让的！
马太福音 6:19-20 “不要为自己积攒财宝在地上，地上有虫子咬，能锈坏，也有贼挖窟窿来偷。 只要积攒财宝在天上，天上没有虫子咬，不能锈坏，也没有贼挖窟窿来偷。
神要我们成为祂钱财的好管家，善用祂所赐给我们的资源并没有错。但祂不愿我们的心只专注于积攒地上的财富，否则，贪爱钱财会使我们远离祂。神鼓励我们把心委身于积攒天上的财宝。祂要我们既有属天的眼光，也同时活出地上的价值。
有些人在追求地上财富的过程中，失去了关系与家庭；有些人甚至因疾病或意外，来不及享受自己劳碌所得的成果。还有一些财富，会随着时间被偷窃、被骗取，或逐渐贬值。
我们花了许多时间努力在地上取得成功，却忘记了我们将要在天上度过永恒。耶稣要我们以永恒的眼光来服事。
默想：
你的人生更多是被短暂的地上成功所驱动，还是被永恒的天上奖赏所激励？当你知道耶稣将要再来，并“照各人所行的报应他”时，上帝正在邀请你作出怎样的回应？
讲章系列：投资于那不能震动的国度