ODB: real rewards
August 21, 2009
READ: Matthew 5:3-12
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. —Matthew 5:3
I once viewed the Beatitudes in Matthew 5:3-12 as a kind of sop Jesus threw to the unfortunates: “Well, since you aren’t rich, and your health is bad, and your face is wet with tears, I’ll toss out a few nice phrases to make you feel better.”
Unlike medieval kings who threw coins to the masses, though, Jesus had the advantage of dangling real rewards before His audience. He who came down from heaven knew well that the glories of the kingdom of heaven would easily counterbalance whatever misery we might encounter here on earth.
Among many Christians, an emphasis on future rewards has gone out of fashion. My former pastor Bill Leslie used to observe, “As churches grow wealthier and more successful, they’re less likely to sing ‘This world is not my home, I’m just a passin’ through’ and more likely to intone, ‘This is my Father’s world.’ ”
We dare not discount the value of hope in future rewards. One need only listen to the songs composed by American slaves to realize this consolation of belief. “Swing low, sweet chariot, comin’ for to carry me home.” “Nobody knows the trouble I’ve seen, nobody knows but Jesus.”
Over time I have learned to respect, and even long for, the future rewards Jesus has promised. — Philip Yancey
Dark trials will be rewarded by bright crowns.
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Should people cheat God? Yet you have cheated Me! (3:8).
READ: Malachi 1:6-14
The book of Malachi was written around 420 BC as a warning to the nation of Israel. God accused the priests of offering “defiled” sacrifices (Malachi 1:7). Specifically, He was concerned with the nation’s direct disobedience in not giving Him their best (v.8), and for withholding the tithes He had commanded them to give for His work (3:8-14).
So what does this have to do with us? We don’t bring God animal sacrifices. The death and resurrection of His Son Jesus Christ was the one-time sacrifice for our sins (Hebrews 10:1-18). Malachi doesn’t apply to us, right? Surely we’re not guilty of giving God blemished sacrifices! Or are we?
Let’s look at just a couple of areas where I give God “blemished sacrifices”:
Time. I get up in the morning and have a hundred things to do. So I race into my day planning to take time to pray and read God’s Word in a minute. All throughout the day, I sense a nagging urge to spend time with God. Eight or nine hundred minutes later I’m tired and ready for bed. Not only did I not give God second-best—I didn’t give Him anything!
Money. There are so many things I need! I tell myself I’ll give money to the Lord’s work next month, when I can afford it. But the biblical principle is clear: God wants our best in every area. He doesn’t need my money; He wants me to invest it in His work so that He’ll have my heart. “Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be” (Matthew 6:21).
Because of Jesus’ once-for-all sacrifice, we don’t sacrifice bulls and goats anymore. But God should still come first in every aspect of our lives—time, money, talent, friends, choices. What sacrifices do you need to make today?
—Tim Gustafson
What kind of “sacrifices” do you give to God? Are you stealing from God by giving Him second-best?
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