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Program D-7808
Have you received here on earth the recognition and rewards you deserve in your job? Maybe you are a wife and mother, and your kids and husband never say “Thanks.” Maybe you’re an assistant to someone who just barks orders all the time without recognizing all you do. Maybe you’re a nurse and the doctors act as though you are their private slaves. I know many of you are nodding your heads right now saying, “Yeah, right!”
As Christians we don’t have to be despondent because even if we don’t receive earthly recognition, we can be eligible for heavenly rewards. That’s what the Bible teaches us.
Let’s briefly compare earthly rewards with heavenly ones. If we are working for people’s recognition, we must be prepared to discover that it is not fairly given. Some people get recognition they don’t deserve; some who do deserve it, never get it. Also, notice that earthly recognition is unreliable: one day we have it, the next day it’s gone. Furthermore, earthly rewards don’t last very long—the money goes fast, the kudos are quickly forgotten, the bigger office and title soon lose their attraction. As hard as we may work to get earthly recognition and rewards, we will always find them to eventually be empty and less-than-satisfying.
How important is it to you to be recognized by people for what you do? If it’s vital to you to receive earthly rewards, you are probably pretty frustrated. In a sense, you are addicted to the approval of others: when you get a little recognition, you feel good; when you don’t, you’re depressed. Working strictly for earthly recognition is a roller coaster ride to nowhere.
However, God’s rewards are eternal. Colossians 3:24 tells us we will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. We have the potential to hear Jesus Christ say to us, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” God’s recognition will last through eternity and it will be very fairly distributed! We can be assured that if we deserve it, we will receive it!
It certainly makes sense to work for heavenly recognition, doesn’t it? It’s a sure thing, it’s fair, and it’s eternal. If you’ve been focused on earthly rewards and recognition, why don’t you ask God to give you a different ambition—to work for heavenly recognition.
