Faith Series

God Rewards Our Faith

Hebrews 11:6 ESV

6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

I think when we mention that God rewards we get uncomfortable.

Because we all don’t want to fall in the trap of serving God for the soul purpose of getting something in return.

We don’t give to get, we give out of:

compassion

we give out of vision

we give out of honor

The context is out of wanting please God.

How do we please God according to the Bible? By Faith

We all have Faith. Bible say’s we have been given a measure of faith. Everyone christian has a measure of faith. Romans 12:3

Now we can grow our faith or our faith can shrink depending how we use it.

Matthew 25:14–30 ESV

14 “For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. 15 To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. 16 He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. 17 So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. 18 But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master’s money. 19 Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. 20 And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here, I have made five talents more.’ 21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ 22 And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here, I have made two talents more.’ 23 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ 24 He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, 25 so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here, you have what is yours.’ 26 But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? 27 Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. 28 So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. 29 For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 30 And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

Verse 15 one according to his ability.

God gave each one according to how they would manage what they were given.

Verse 28 : The Lord didn’t punish the one who has 10 by taking what he has and giving it to the one. It was the other way around.

You might not like that - there are some things of God - create a God that is made in our own image.

It makes me think of participation trophies. Our education system is trying to reward everyone equally.

This breads mediocrity in the name of compassion and feeds into a ongoing problem

I think there is a certain amount due everyone alive - everyone deserves to eat, have roof over their head, and have clothes to wear. However if you want a cell phone then its time to work.

There has to be a reward for those who multiply what they have been given

God wants us to increase in faith and other areas of our life. How do we increase in faith?

Through use.

Use it or lose it. Mark 4

Wood Hay Stubble

1 Corinthians 3:12–16 ESV

12 Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw— 13 each one’s work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. 14 If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire. 16 Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?

Galatians 6 says The Lord will not be mocked for whatever a man sows that shall he reap.

Its mockery to think that I can do something in faith before the Lord and not receive a reward.

Its a mockery of His nature and His covenant to us as His people.

Its a father who rewards.

Ellie Skittles

The Lord is attacked as a Father to things that are done to please Him. Not to earn in a perverted sense

We do these things out of a pure heart to please the Father and help others, and grow the kingdom of God