Living for reward..
So I think one general rule in interpreting the Bible is that repetitions emphasize something significant. When Christ says "verily verily", He's saying, "LISTEN UP. DON'T MISS THIS."Well, here's a nice little phrase that repeats 3 times in Matthew 6:
"And your Father who sees in secret will reward you."
To be honest, I think these verses stand out more now that I've been exposed to Ps John Piper's exposition of Scripture, arguing that our primary purpose in life is not to "glorify God and enjoy Him forever", but to "glorify God by enjoying Him forever." An oversimplification of the compelling theology of "Christian hedonism", but not too far off the mark.
In any case, one thing that grows out of the theology of Christian hedonism is an obsession with desiring and enjoying God (ergo the name Desiring God Ministries). And so in our reading of Scripture, we Christian hedonists cannot help but notice the phrase "for the joy that was set before Him" in Hebrews 12:2:
In any case, one thing that grows out of the theology of Christian hedonism is an obsession with desiring and enjoying God (ergo the name Desiring God Ministries). And so in our reading of Scripture, we Christian hedonists cannot help but notice the phrase "for the joy that was set before Him" in Hebrews 12:2:
"Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."
And again, in Matthew 5:11-12, where we are given the reason for our rejoicing in tribulation:
"Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you."
And finally, this morning, I couldn't help but notice in Matthew 6, a great discourse on what true righteousness should look like, Jesus begins, in the very first verse, by saying this:
"Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven."
So again we have that ubiquitous idea of reward. The idea here, I think, is that our righteousness is rightly motivated by reward. The righteousness that Christ both models and preaches is not "altruistic", "right for its own sake".. It's motivated by reward!
But that's selfish, you say!
*shrugs*
Look at the Scriptures, I reply. Really look. That idea of "reward", it's all over the place. It's hard to ignore.
But what is that reward?
Here's a thought I had this morning. One of the places that Christ says "And your Father who sees in secret will reward you" in Matthew 6 is when He's talking about prayer. And He's contrasting "right prayer" with the prayers of the hypocrites, who "love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others" (v5). Jesus says, verily verily, that they already have their reward. What is their reward? To be seen by others.
What kind of goal is that for prayer???
Imagine the alternative - what Jesus is implying by His use of the word reward. Jesus doesn't say anything about prayers being answered. He talks about reward. Both types of prayer get rewarded. The hypocrites get noticed. That's their reward. But those who pray in their closets, to their Father in secret? What is their reward?
I contend that their reward is communion with the Father.
That is the reward that I think should motivate our righteousness.
I pray that you will begin and continue to know the reward that is our Father in heaven. =)
But that's selfish, you say!
*shrugs*
Look at the Scriptures, I reply. Really look. That idea of "reward", it's all over the place. It's hard to ignore.
But what is that reward?
Here's a thought I had this morning. One of the places that Christ says "And your Father who sees in secret will reward you" in Matthew 6 is when He's talking about prayer. And He's contrasting "right prayer" with the prayers of the hypocrites, who "love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others" (v5). Jesus says, verily verily, that they already have their reward. What is their reward? To be seen by others.
What kind of goal is that for prayer???
Imagine the alternative - what Jesus is implying by His use of the word reward. Jesus doesn't say anything about prayers being answered. He talks about reward. Both types of prayer get rewarded. The hypocrites get noticed. That's their reward. But those who pray in their closets, to their Father in secret? What is their reward?
I contend that their reward is communion with the Father.
That is the reward that I think should motivate our righteousness.
I pray that you will begin and continue to know the reward that is our Father in heaven. =)
Labels: For the spirit, Musings
posted by Joel Chan @ 8:03 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home