Jesus’ Reward for Faithful Service

Jesus said: “I come quickly and my reward is with me.” At the Judgment Seat of Christ in the first heaven immediately after the rapture of the church Jesus will give various rewards to His faithful servants.

The parable of reward for workers in God’s Vineyard has to do with divine assessment for the value of Christian service. “For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard.” (Mt 20:1)

There are five crowns to be won. Every raptured saint shall receive at least one crown. Other crowns can be earned based on obedience to the revealed will of God for each individual saint.

Some Christians rate themselves by activity. Some rate themselves by how long they have been in ministry. God rates His servants by obedience. Obedience is better than willful sacrifice.

People who are born by Christian parents tend to believe that there is general elevation of such people compared to those born by unbelievers, which is not the case. God judges individually and not collectively.

Those who have been Christians for long assume that they will get greater regard than those with shorter Christian experience. It is not always the case because in assessing the relevance of works in the Lord’s Vineyard regard is given to what one was appointed to do and not what one thinks is good to do or what the public applauds to be good.

John the Baptist died at a youthful age. He was in ministry for a very short period of time, maybe one year. Moses died at the age of 120 years. He was in ministry for 40 years. John the Baptist performed no miracle. Moses performed many breathtaking miracles.

Concerning John the Baptist Jesus said: “For I say to you, among those born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.” (Luke 7:28).

The least saint in the kingdom is greater than all the Old Testament patriarchs, including Abraham, Moses and John the Baptist. Even among New Testament saints the basis for reward is not activity but obedience.

There are many servants of God largely unknown to the world who will sit very close to Jesus in heaven by reason of being faithful to their calling. That is why it is good to stick to one’s area of call.

If you are called to be an evangelist but you decide to be a pastor and build the largest auditorium in the world, you may be shocked to see the effort burnt by fire at the Judgment Seat of Christ.

God’s expectation from His servants especially in this end-time period is to be READY for Christ’s second coming by being WATCHFUL over needful things, FAITHFUL to the end in the area of call and FRUITFUL in soul-winning and discipleship.  Every child of God has a person-specific mandate.

Some people think they can give things like money to God. Mankind has absolutely nothing tangible to give to God. There would have been no need for God to incarnate in Jesus Christ if it was possible for any human being to carry out the plan of redemption. “He saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor; therefore His own arm brought salvation for Him; and His own righteousness, it sustained Him.” (Isa 59:16)

Many are called into the Lord’s vineyard with differing assignments and timing but only those who are faithful to their specific assignment will be rewarded by the Lord. The key is to know what God called you to do and doing it with all diligence. It does not require comparison with what other pilgrims are doing.

Comparing oneself to others is the sin of the flesh – pride. God hates it. His grace is for the humble at heart. Be yourself. At the Judgment Seat of Christ everyone will stand alone. Those who are expecting more than they deserve by reason of activity may be disappointed. Don’t be one of them.

“Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season? Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing. Assuredly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all his goods.  (Mt 24:45-47)

Collins Enyeribe #rapturewatchersfellowship.org