The Rewards for Faithful Service

 The Bible has a lot to say about rewards. I believe God knows our human nature since He designed us. He knows that we are motivated by rewards. Giving a reward is an excellent way of showing our appreciation for something that someone has done for us or for a group of people. Receiving an award makes us feel a sense of accomplishment, too. All of that and more is why God gives us rewards.

Joshua had been very faithful in his service to the Lord. He was Moses' assistant, and then he became the leader who led the people into the Promised Land successfully. (Joshua 19:50) Even before the conquest of Canaan, God had told Joshua he could have any town that he wanted, so he could settle him and his family there. He chose Timnath-serah in the hill country of Ephraim. He rebuilt the town and lived there. There are some good insights here for all of us.

Joshua did not choose the town he wanted until all of the land had been conquered and all of the tribes had been given their allotment of land. He waited until the victories were won and his work was complete before he took care of his own needs. Then, he even had to rebuild the town he chose. However, Joshua was very humble and satisfied with the reward he had been give for his service. We should not want to be rewarded first or with the greatest rewards here on earth. We should receive what is good for us and appreciate it. God knows what is best for us.

Then, when we get to heaven, we will receive our heavenly rewards. We will get what God has prepared for our service for Him on the earth. They will be rewards for the things we did that had eternal significance and eternal fruit, like seeing other people come to know Jesus. We could receive the Crown of Life, the Soul Winner's Crown, or the Crown for Enduring Temptation. At that point we will take our crowns, our rewards, and lay them before the throne of God to show that we could not have done anything without the Lord saving us and empowering us. Still, it will be good to have a reward to lay at His feet. That is a great motivation for all of us now.

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Tomorrow, I intend to read Joshua 21-23.