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Scripture Reading: Matthew 6

I got a letter in the mail one day from Isaac Asimov, the famous science fiction writer, back when he was still alive.  It wasn’t a personal letter, but rather a fund raising letter he had written for an atheistic organization. The letter began by saying:  “You’ll get your reward in heaven!”  Asimov then followed up that quote with his own words:  “We’ve all heard that empty promise before.”

Asimov didn’t believe in God, or heaven, or hell.  He went on to say in his letter that if you wanted to get anything out of life, you’d better get it here and now for, according to him, there was no hereafter.

But Jesus said something completely different.  And although Jesus never wrote a single book, his words have been recorded for us in a book that has sold more copies than any other book in the history of the world.  Let’s take a look at what Jesus said about God’s rewards in Matthew chapter 6:

In talking about giving, Jesus said:

“But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you” (Matthew 6:3-4). 

In talking about praying, Jesus said:

“But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you” (Matthew 6:6). 

In talking about fasting, Jesus said:

“But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you” (Matthew 6:17-18). 

Jesus followed this up by saying that the rewards God has in store for us don’t come just here on earth, but in heaven as well.  As Jesus continues in Matthew 6, He says:

“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. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:19-21). 

I know a pastor who could have made a tremendous amount of money from the conferences at which he has spoken and the books that he has written.  But instead, he and his wife have chosen to take only a minimal salary, living in an extremely humble house, and declining or giving away the rest of the millions he could have earned.

His friends have challenged him for the way he lives, claiming he has a poverty mentality.  But he counters their claims by saying that nothing could be further from the truth.  He wants to get rich more than anyone else he knows.  The difference is that he wants to store up his riches in heaven, where they will last forever, rather than cashing in on them here where they will rot or rust.

What about you?  What do you believe?  Will God really reward you for the things you do for Him, and for others, even those things you do in secret?   Jesus says He will, and I for one―along with millions of others―believe Him.  I pray that you do, too, for God knows it will affect everything you think and do here on earth, as well as what God does for you in eternity.

You can trust Jesus:  God really will reward you when you put Him first in your life.  As Jesus said at the end of Matthew 6:

“Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (Matthew 6:31-33). 

Put your trust in God.  He really will reward you!

Prayer

Father, thank You for promising to reward us when we seek first Your kingdom and Your righteousness.  Help us to trust You, and not to worry about what we’ll eat or drink or wear, but to focus on Your kingdom, storing up our riches in heaven instead.  In Jesus’ name, Amen. 

Memory Verse

“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (Matthew 6:33, ESV).