Well, just to let you know - I caught myself thinking selfishly as I got into this subject - I caught myself being ‘greedy.’I mean, what was I after?Wasn’t I just wanting to ‘read the will’ first to find out what I can do “now” to make it even better for me “later?”Wasn’t I just seeking a way to earn “more” riches after my earthly works are judged?Didn’t I just want to be rich in heaven?Wasn’t I just getting excited in knowing some more detail about MY eternal life’s rewards (if any)?Had I forgotten why I am ‘to do good’ down here?

How about you? Are you just thinking like a selfish relative in regards to his rich relative’s will – you know, about ‘how much do you get in your inheritance?

The kind - the quality – Of what sort it is!Did you ever stop to think about how little in life we have done just for the Lord Jesus Christ - for the Holy Spirit – for God Himself.If you have truly and Biblically received Jesus Christ – you have Jesus Christ in you, so you CAN please God!John 14:6Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.If you have Him, you can go unto the Father!

But how many times have we done things for ourselves, for others, and for other reasons – whether they be good or bad – but can’t even remember what or when we have done anything specifically for Jesus Christ?

Let’s make a simple typology comparison: When “your rich relative” dies, would you want him to ‘reward’ you for your works based on what you did for yourself or would you figure he would do you better if you had done those things with him in mind – maybe even for him directly?

Now consider this: people say to me that because I preach, I will be rewarded greatly.But the problem is, I enjoy preaching and hopefully I even get to see some results of it; so because I already get paid for preaching, why should I expect to get re-rewarded at my Judgment Seat for preaching when I have already been paid for it now?

Well, I can say this - if I am preaching for HIM and concentrating on telling people HIS words and HIS directions – and allowing myself to be led of the Holy Spirit through it all – then maybe there would be a consideration at the Judgment Seat as it was all for HIM, by HIM and about HIM.But if I am just doing it for you folks, then I have already been paid – rewarded.Either through enjoyment of seeing you grow, receiving the grief & anger for your conviction, or even receiving money to sustain my family in this world of ‘things,’ I am being rewarded.

Some folks say that you did this good thing and that good thing and this and that…Ya, but you enjoyed it.Somebody got the benefit out of it.Your kids benefited – your wife benefited, etc.But did you do it for Jesus Christ or for the benefit of your kids and wife, etc.?

The question is:What have you done just for Jesus Christ that you got nothing out of it – or maybe even a bit of suffering, shame, embarrassment, frustration, the feeling of being used & being taken advantage of, etc.?Maybe that has something to do with suffering FOR Him being rewarded with reigning WITH Him?Hmmmmm, maybe so, eh!

Let me ask you another one?Why are you taking that Bible Correspondence Course – why are you going to Bible College, etc?To get an edjukation?Well, you’ll get one all right.Then wouldn’t you consider yourself rewarded?Do you want a ‘degree’ so you can ‘officially’ preach?You’ll get one!Or are you taking those things because you want to learn more about Jesus Christ?Do you want to know more about that Book so that you can please Jesus Christ – please God, etc.? Take the degree, but do it for HIM, not yourself!

Why do you...

• Sing that special in church?
• Write that Christian Music?
• Play that offertory?
• Design that Website?
• Paint the Building?
• Clean the Building?
• Fix that meal?
• Write that check?
• Write that extra check?
• Slip that cash into someone’s hand?

It’s Suppose to be FOR HIM, AMEN!

We need to do right for the Lord just because “it is the right thing to do” and because HE wants us to do it and because He asks us to do it and because we know by doing it that it would please Him, not because He would give us a reward!Now that separates the Miracle Whip from the Mayonnaise, eh!

We need to be faithful to Him and to His Book.We need to be faithful in what God has given us to do FOR HIM and for HIS TESTIMONY so that others would see HIM and want HIM, not just see us!Our joy is to be based on HIM and for HIM!

Titus 3:8 - This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men. 

2 Timothy 2:11 - It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him:We might as well do things FOR Him, too!

1 Timothy 1:12 - And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry;

1 Corinthians 4:2 - Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful. It is required, actually – not requested!

Luke 19:17 - And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities. 

Luke 16:11-13 - If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man's, who shall give you that which is your own? No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. 

Who do you serve? Who do you love?

Who do you want to receive your rewards from?

• Do you want to go to Heaven? TRUST JESUS CHRIST!
• Do you want to go to Hell? TRUST SOMETHING ELSE!
• Do you want to live in fellowship with God and enjoy your salvation? STAY CONFESSED UP!
• Do you want to be miserable and unhappy? LET YOURSELF GO AND DO WHAT FEELS GOOD TO YOU!
• Do you want rewards at the Judgment Seat of Christ? GO WORK FOR THE MASTER AND WORK TO PLEASE HIM!
• Do you want to go to the Judgment Seat of Christ and have FEW or even NO rewards? JUST SIT DOWN and DO IT ALL FOR YOURSELF. 

It is not planned to be that way – remember what Dr. Gipp says.It IS the plan that God designed, no sense in being pious about it all and missing rewards He does have for us; but we must keep our priorities straight!

You are saved by the blood OF HIM!

You are kept happy by being WITH HIM.

You are rewarded when working FOR HIM!

Work for the night is coming, Work through the morning hours;
Work while the dew is sparkling; Work 'mid springing flow'rs.
Work when the day grows brighter, Work in the glowing sun;
Work for the night is coming, When man's work is done.

Work for the night is coming, Work thro' the sunny noon;
Fill brightest hours with labor, Rest comes sure and soon.
Give every flying minute Something to keep in store;
Work for the night is coming, When man works no more.