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Wednesday, March 18, 2009

A Good Investment



On a cool breezy night last month my husband and I attended a formal dinner at an elegant country club here in our town. All the ladies were dressed so beautifully in their long flowing gowns, and the men looked so handsome in their sharp black tuxedo's! We were treated like royalty from the moment we arrived at the private dinning set up with beautiful china and crystal. A special duet was playing classical music in the background as we greeted one another and took formal pictures. A five course meal was served with some of Louisiana’s finest cuisine. Bon Appétit! The service was impeccable, and it was truly a night to remember.

The reason for this occasion was to recognize the new 2009 “President's Council” and say good bye to the out going one. This tradition has been going on for over 20 years at my husband's company. Rick worked exceptionally hard last year, spending the entire summer away in Iowa on a special disaster recovery project following the Cedar Rapids flood.

Part of the reward that goes along with this honor is a recognition trip. We were all sitting on the edge of our chairs awaiting the announcement from the President on where we would be going. This year he chose Williamsburg, VA., and it looks like it will be a wonderful get away to this beautiful and historic area of our country.

When I think about awards and accolades, it only seems natural for humans to desire this. After all, who doesn't want to be appreciated and recognized for their hard work, sacrifice, and leadership?

The bible speaks a lot about rewards both as a recompense for doing good, as well as, a punishment for doing wrong. Most people think of rewards in terms of material gain, but it was not only material prosperity Jesus promised to His disciples.

I like what John Piper said about this:

God's standards of greatness are different from ours, and the process through which He produces greatness are also very different.

Matt 25:20-21 describes an Award Ceremony that will take place in Heaven:

20 “And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more. 21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.”

What an awesome time of celebration this will be when all of God’s faithful servants will stand before Jesus as He honors them before the multitude of angels and saints in Heaven.

Is anything worth missing out hearing those words?

The word is filled with scriptures and promises of rewards. Here a just a few of them to consider.

I Samuel 26:23:
The LORD rewards every man for his righteousness and faithfulness?

Proverbs 12:14:
From the fruit of his lips a man is filled with good things as surely as the work of his hands rewards him.

Proverbs 19:17
He who is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will reward him for what he has done.

I especially like this one in Hebrews…

Hebrews 11:6
And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

Now, what excites me the most is what we will be able to do with these rewards. I don't know about you, but I don't want to come empty handed when I face Jesus one day. I want to have my crowns to lay down at His feet. Just like the faithful servant in Matthew 25, I want to be able to give back to my master five more talents.

Something to ponder:


Consider how you are investing your talents each day as a servant of Christ.


Is there more that you know you are able to do?



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11 Comments:

Blogger Denise said...

I feel like there is always more that I could be doing.

March 18, 2009 at 1:38 AM  
Blogger Jamaican Princess said...

I always fell like I could do more for God, It's high time that I do!

March 18, 2009 at 3:15 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I needed to hear this. There is so much to do and so little time. Thanks for this post-it is a blessing!

March 18, 2009 at 8:07 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

It's a great post that you have because I think we often mistaken the use of talents for maybe material/physical rewards but it's a reminder that just by reaching out brings out rewards that we may see today, tomorrow, or maybe until we are with our Heavenly Father and those are the ones that bear worth.

March 18, 2009 at 9:16 AM  
Blogger Laurie Ann said...

Susan, what an excellent call to honor our Father, who will reward us in eternity. We'll be able to lay those crowns right back at His holy feet in the highest praise we can give him.

Beautiful post. What a foretaste of Heaven!

March 18, 2009 at 10:36 AM  
Blogger Tea with Tiffany said...

Great challenge. Appreciate it! Everyone likes a reward, why not do something with the gifts and talents we have here on earth? :)Our heavenly reward will outweigh any earthly ribbon or trophy!

Love you,
Tiffany

March 18, 2009 at 12:29 PM  
Blogger LauraLee Shaw said...

I pray I honor Him with all that is in me and working through me. What incredible insights!

March 18, 2009 at 12:42 PM  
Blogger Jennifer said...

I've heard it said that it is prideful to work for reward...oh, but I disagree. I certainly would not want to do less than my best in service for my savior - but, as you said...even more, I don't want to be empty-handed when there is time to lay our crowns at His feet! Great post...thanks for the story. And, congrats, on your trip. Williamsburg is not too far from my neck of the woods - beautiful!

March 18, 2009 at 1:30 PM  
Blogger elaine @ peace for the journey said...

I'm just reading this with tears in my eyes today; so often I wonder what I will have to show for my life when I stand before Him. I so desire to give him more than what I currently have. Somedays, it seems pitiful offering...like I should be doing something more...loving more...expending more of myself on behalf of the kingdom.

I don't want to get home emptyhanded. I want to come home to Jesus with an offering found worthy of all the honor and treasures of heaven. So much of what I do now seems like getting by and walking it through, rather than the lavish that others seem to have.

I keep pressing on, friend, toward the prize that awaits; in the meantime, I have the pleasure of walking with the One who holds my heart.

I pray my life be found worthy of a well done. I know it's God's grace alone that gives me that, but somedays, it seems as if I should be doing more.

peace~elaine

March 18, 2009 at 3:47 PM  
Blogger Susannah said...

Wow, what a great word, Susan. You've reminded me that we will indeed be rewarded for our service to Him. Helps me to keep on, keeping on. ((Hugs))

March 18, 2009 at 5:27 PM  
Blogger Kim @ Homesteader's Heart said...

Wonderful post Susan. It's true about our talents and how we use them. I used to think that they were being "wasted" just staying home but God has so turned my heart into knowing how important they are to my family.
Blessings to you my friend.
Kim

March 20, 2009 at 5:07 AM  

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