Heaven’s Reward
The Good Life • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Transcript
Intro
Intro
Have you ever not felt seen or recognized?
Insert story of service and unrecognized
It’s difficult to do good things and not be noticed for it. We all long for recognition.
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We have an amazing worship team. Anabella, Emily, Corey, y’all got great voices and great heart’s for the Lord. If I came to you and said I have two oppertunities for you:
You can do a worship night for 500 people
You can lead an worship night alongside your favorite artist and fill out Huntington Bank Stadium
Which one are you going to choose?
Why, because one reward is clearly greater
Now what if I told you option 1 is able to happen tomorrow; option 2, you had to wait 50 years. Which one you choosing? Most likely, your taking the immediate oppertunity - hoping that you can still get the second one
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Let's break it down with a simple investment example.
Spending vs. Investing: The $10 Coffee Decision
Spending vs. Investing: The $10 Coffee Decision
Scenario 1: Spend Now – You buy a $10 coffee. You enjoy it for a moment, and the money is gone.
Scenario 2: Invest for the Future – You invest that $10 instead.
Investment Growth Assumption
Investment Growth Assumption
Let’s assume you invest that $10 in the stock market, earning an 8% annual return (the historical average for the S&P 500 after inflation).
30yrs from now it’s worth $100.63 (10X the amount)
The Long-Term Impact
The Long-Term Impact
If you made this same decision once a week—investing $10 instead of spending it—you'd be investing $520 per year. Over 30 years, that could grow to $65,000+ with compounding interest.
Key Takeaway
Key Takeaway
That $10 coffee may feel small today, but consistently choosing to invest instead of spending on non-essentials can build real wealth over time. Would you rather have a moment of pleasure now or financial freedom later?
So often we choose the reward of the moment over the reward of eternity. Why is that?
So often we choose the reward of the moment over the reward of eternity. Why is that?
We don’t understand the value of what is to come
We live in a microwave culture where we desire microwave results.
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Imagine your in heaven - standing in streets of gold, there’s no more tears, no more sorrow.
Jesus is standing before you, He gives you a massive hug and He welcomes you into heavens gates.
As he’s doing so he looks you in the eyes and says “well done my good and faithful servant”
He places on your head a crown of eternal life
He then begins to give you a personal tour of His Kingdom. Because you have your heavenly body you can now teleport - and he brings you to a room he has prepared for you.
He then gives you a list of angels he wants you to oversee - to rule over
He introduces you to moses, elijah, paul, david, michael, and the ceriphim,
Then he brings you to another location - his throne room where he has waiting for you a reward.
Knowing that God is good, loving, gracious and kind.
How many of you want that reward?
My guess is all of us.
What dictates whether we get that reward or not?
What dictates whether we get that reward or not?
Not what dictates, if we get into heaven, not what dictates if we get the crown, or the room he’s prepared,
But what’s the thing that dictates whether or not we get the reward in heaven?
Please turn to Matthew 6:1
1 “Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.
What dictates whether or not we get the reward is the motive of our heart.
What dictates whether or not we get the reward is the motive of our heart.
Why do you do good works?
Why do you do good works?
Matt 6:1
Matt 6:1
Why do you do good works?
16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
Jesus says we should do good works that others might see them; and then here he says
1 “Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.
Is this a contradiction in the Bible? Certainly not.
The difference is a difference of motive.
1 “Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.
16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
Jesus continues the heart exam and asks two questions:
Who’s recognition do we long for?
Who’s recognition do we long for?
Who’s glory are we seeking?
Who’s glory are we seeking?
If we want the heavenly reward we need to defer on our earthly reward.
If we want the heavenly reward we need to defer on our earthly reward.
And there are good works/behaviors Jesus has for us to do.
And there are good works/behaviors Jesus has for us to do.
Give
Pray
Fast
Matt 6:2-4.
Matt 6:2-4.
2 “So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
When you give - it’s expected that we give.
We hesitate to give because we’re so focused on getting. But Jesus says the way to get is to give.
Do you see those in need? If so - give.
We overcomplicate basic commands.
Giving frees your heart from greed.
the second work jesus calls us to do is pray.
Matt 6:5-15.
Matt 6:5-15.
5 “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. 7 And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
When you pray - it’s expected we are prayerful people
Prayer isn’t about how much we say or how many words we use - it’s about who we are talking to
9 “This, then, is how you should pray:
“ ‘Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
How to pray:
Worship
Surrender
Dependance
Forgivness
Protection
the third behavior he calls us to is fasting:
Matt 6:16-18.
Matt 6:16-18.
16 “When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 17 But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, 18 so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
When you fast - expected fast regularly
I love food - that isn’t in question - the question is do I love Jesus more than I love food?
Why would I deny myself the pleasure of food?
Why would I deny myself the pleasure that comes from being recognized as godly?
Because Jesus has a reward for us in heaven - and if we want it the way to access it is twofold”
Because Jesus has a reward for us in heaven - and if we want it the way to access it is twofold”
Obey
Obey with a heart that is focused on pleasing the Lord and not man.
Mark of Disciple: Obey Jesus Completely
But here’s the danger the danger in knowing there’s a reward is allowing our motive to be shifted to motivation by the reward.
But here’s the danger the danger in knowing there’s a reward is allowing our motive to be shifted to motivation by the reward.
All of us can be reward driven:
diploma
paycheck
The change in our heart shouldn’t come because we know there’s a reward but because we understand who Jesus is
The change in our heart shouldn’t come because we know there’s a reward but because we understand who Jesus is
Jesus sees the unseen - (done in secret)
Jesus sees the unseen - (done in secret)
4 so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
18 so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
When we know that He sees us - it frees us from needing the applause of man.
When we know that He sees us - it frees us from needing the applause of man.
Ending point:
some of you aren’t walking in complete obedience and jesus is inviting you into that today.
some of you may be obeying but looking for the world’s recognition.
Both require repentance of heart and behavior.
Take a moment to reflect with the Lord and choose an area of your life where you know He would like to create change.
