Christians, Please Don't Expect Instant Rewards for Your Good Works

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The Christian life was never meant to be easy. Jesus never promised an easy life. Instead, He warned about that if any man should follow Him then let that person take his or her cross first (Matthew 10:38, 16:24, Mark 8:24, 10:31, Luke 9:23). It's not going to be an easy work and it can be very discouraging. You can't get the crown without enduring the cross first!

Blessing also comes through suffering

The Bible teaches the one truth that would be hard to swallow. It's all about blessing through suffering. There is no blessing in the Christian life without suffering for Christ! Christians are told that many of their blessings will first come through suffering!
Psalm 126:5-6 
They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. 6 He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him. 
Matthew 5:11-12 
Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. 12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. 
Luke 6:22-23 
Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake. 23 Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.
Acts 5:41 
And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name. 
1 Timothy 3:12 
Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
James 1:12 
Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. 
1 Peter 1:7 
That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:

Don't believe for a second that as long as you continue to do what's right that you will never get into trouble. Remember that Satan and his devils hate righteousness! They will do everything to discourage them from their Christian ministry. If you continue to do what's right - you may get some praise first but when you stand by for Jesus then you can expect the whole world to turn their back on you.

Good works manifested by genuine authentic faith and only by God's grace

The truth of good works in the Christian life is that they come from faith. Power against sin is not inherent in the flesh but in the Spirit.
Ephesians 2:8-10 
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. 
Titus 2:11-14 
For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; 13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; 14 Who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. 
Hebrews 9:14 
How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

The more good works abound, the more God polishes the person

The very good works of the Christian life is by God's grace. No Christian should ever dream of taking credit for their good works. It's very easy to say that you don't deserve anything that's coming to you because you've been faithful to God. It should raise the question of, "Did you already stop sinning?" If your answer is no then it's time to face the fact that God is still purifying the believer. Christians are called to bear good works. Good works happen but God wants more.
John 15:1-8 
I Am the true vine, and My Father is the husbandman. 2 Every branch in Me that beareth not fruit He taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, He purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. 3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. 4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in Me. 5 I Am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in Me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. 6 If a man abide not in Me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. 7 If ye abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. 8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be My disciples.

If you're bearing fruit for Christ then prepare for the Father's loving chastising whenever you sin. Take a notice at what verse two says - the Father purges the branches that bear fruit. The false branches are thrown away but Christians will get purged. What purging can this be? Christians still sin at a daily basis even if they don't sin wantonly or enjoy it. Sinning is not just a matter of physical actions but also internal acts such as lustful thoughts and ill thoughts are still sin. Christians can get self-righteous and arrogant and may want to take the glory but God doesn't want Christians to hinder their fruit bearing with such sins. You can see how true fellowship with Christianity is - abiding in Christ. Those who abide not in Him have no salvation to start with.

Why would God allow Christians to suffer when the live godly? A godly life is indeed a result of one's salvation. Godliness abounds yet it's not enough. God knows that these branches still have their impurity. Christians will still sin and unfortunately they still sin daily even if they dont't live a life of sin. Sometimes, Christians can sin horribly so God does what He does - He lovingly chastises the Christian.
Hebrews 12:5-7 
And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of Him: 6 For whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom He receiveth. 7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?

 Focus away from earthly rewards and focus on eternal rewards

The Christian's rewards are not temporal but eternal. The earthly rewards are sure to perish aren't they? It's no wonder why Paul spoke of an incorruptible crown that will never perish.
1 Corinthians 9:24-25 
Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. 25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.

Here's the reality of having earthly rewards. You can have a glass cabinet to display your past achievements and brag about them. You can have a lot of medals from competitions. These trophies and rewards are bound to wither. In the past, you've got laurel leaves which are bound to wither sooner or later. You can have plenty of money but it's not an infinite source. All the past glory is not meant to last forever. You can think of how the once young and glorious man is later reduced to an old and feeble person. You may age gracefully but it doesn't change the fact that your very inner being gets hurt with issues like memory lapses and aching joints.

The rewards that are for the Christian's good works are eternal. What is done for the world will not last forever but what's done for Christ will last forever.
1 Corinthians 3:11-13 
For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; 13 Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. 
Hebrews 6:10 
For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.

I would like to believe that the wood, hay and stubble don't only talk about the lapses in the Christian life. Christians are bound to produce good works and I believe that Christians will weep because of their failures yet God comforts them by rewarding even little of what they did. It's really something to think about how church authority figures aren't afraid to be seen mopping the floor or cleaning the toilet not for the praises of men but because they want to show people the importance of cherishing every little work. Picking up a piece of paper and throwing it to where it belongs, keeping quiet during a worship service, helping an elderly person cross the street, giving to charity out of love or whatever good work comes out may not merit the praise of the community at all times while still contributes to the Body of Christ.
Luke 16:10 
He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.

The issue is there's no such thing as instant rewards. God starts with the little. Do you remember the parable of the mustard seed? It's the smallest of all seeds yet it bears much fruit. The Christian good work starts off little, it's not very rewarding, there's no applause for doing them. But don't focus on the applause of men. Rather, focus on doing good seeking to please God and only Him and to Him alone!

Soli Deo Gloria!

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