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I always liked to get good grades in school. I guess everybody did—right? But my grade depended on how prepared I was for the exams. Did you know that as believers in Jesus Christ, there will be a final exam for us? It’s called the Judgment Seat of Christ, where believers will be graded—if you will—on how well we represented Jesus while on earth, and rewards will be given to those who are prepared.
I’m looking at what the Bible tells us will be on the exam and what we can do to hear Jesus say, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” Here are few more things that will be on that final exam:
Did you do for people who could not repay you? Were you generous for the right reasons?
Luke 14:12 – 14: Then Jesus said to his host, “When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or sisters, your relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”
If you did for others without a quid pro quo—without expecting anything in return—you will get a good grade on that final exam.
Did you work for people and money, or did you work for the Lord?
Colossians 3:22 – 24: Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to curry their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.
That means what you do every day on your job—whether it’s in your home or otherwise, whether you receive a salary for it or not—you will be rewarded by the Lord on the final exam for working for the Lord, doing whatever you have to do with excellence and joy, because you are serving the Lord Christ.