Rewards and Punishments

[Thompson, Darryl]

-----------------------------------------------------------
Ellen G. White Estate, Devotional for November 30
Visit us at http://www.whiteestate.org
-----------------------------------------------------------

Rewards and Punishments

Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of
my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of
the world. Matt. 25:34. 


The Savior presents before us the scene of the last judgment when the
reward is given to those upon His right hand, and the sentence of
condemnation to those upon His left hand. The righteous are represented
as wondering what they have done for which they are to be so liberally
rewarded. They had had the abiding presence of Christ in their hearts;
they had been imbued with His Spirit, and without conscious effort on
their part; they had been serving Christ in the person of His saints,
and had thereby gained the sure reward. But they had not had in view the
reward they were to receive, and the expectation of it had been no part
of the motive that had actuated their service. What they did was done
from love to Christ and to their fellow-men, and Christ identifies
Himself with suffering humanity, and accounts that all deeds done in
sympathy and compassion and love to men, are done to Him. . . . 

In a subordinate sense we should all have respect unto the recompense of
the reward. But while we appreciate the promise of blessing, we should
have perfect confidence in Jesus Christ, believing that He will do
right, and give us reward according as our works have been. The gift of
God is eternal life, but Jesus would have us not so anxious concerning
rewards, as that we may do the will of God because it is right to do it,
irrespective of all gain. . . . 

Those who will receive the most abundant reward will be those who have
mingled with their activity and zeal, gracious, tender pity for the
poor, the orphan, the oppressed, and the afflicted. . . . There are
about us those who have a meek and lowly spirit, the spirit of Christ,
who do many little things to help those around them, and who think
nothing of it; they will be astonished at last to find that Christ has
noticed the kind word spoken to the disheartened, and taken account of
the smallest gift given for the relief of the poor, that cost the giver
some self-denial. The Lord measures the spirit, and rewards accordingly,
and the pure, humble, childlike spirit of love makes the offering
precious in His sight.

>From Maranatha - Page 342