What Happens If We Fail To Mature?
Sure it's hard to grow up in Christ. But, ultimately it's harder not to grow up in Christ. If we don’t grow up in Christ and instead enter into a state of prolonged spiritual immaturity then there will be consequences. The persistently immature believer will get bogged down in their spiritual life, and suffer because of it. If a believer is persistently immature they can expect to experience some or all of the following: anxiety, worry, fear, sleeplessness, fatigue, despondency, hopelessness, guilt, frustration, disease, low self image, disorientation, confusion, gloom, boredom. lack of passion. timidity, and humiliation. The persistently immature believer misses the sense of God's closeness, becomes spiritually stagnant, suffers decreased spiritual power, gives up the experience of miracles, forfeits blessings, surrenders ministry opportunities, is trapped by addictions, succumbs to temptations, is deprived of joy, misses out on important relationships, and displeases the Lord. Although it is hard and costly to grow up in Christ, it is harder and more costly to not grow up in Christ.
Prolonged spiritual immaturity also has eternal consequences. Christians receive salvation through faith in Christ and what he did for us; however, what we do after we place our faith in Christ becomes the basis for how we will be rewarded in eternity. Believers who squander their spiritual potential miss out on a true experience of God on earth and also to forfeit their reward in heaven. The rest of this page gives the scriptural background to these realities.
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The Price We Pay Now For Failing to Mature
These scriptures point out the relationship between spiritual immaturity and unnecessary hardship in life. There are also excerpts from Bible Commentaries and observations from our Pastor.
Ephesians 4: 14
Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming.
(Commentary - There must be no symptoms of arrested development among believers, who are to abandon childish attitudes and be their age (1Cor 13:11). Paul switches from one metaphor to another as he depicts the features of spiritual infantilism. Its victims will be tossed to and fro like a cork in a surging sea (James 1:6) and whirled around by every chance gust of fashionable heterodoxy. "Blown here and there" (peripheromenoi) is literally "swung around." It is used of spinning tops and feeling dizzy. Such is the confusing effect of false doctrine. – Expositor’s Bible Commentary)
1Peter 5: 8-9
Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.
(Commentary - Belief in the sovereignty of God and in his fatherly concern for us does not permit us to sit back and do nothing. We are to "work out [our] salvation" because "it is God who works in [us]" (Philippians 2:12-13). So here Peter warns his flock of the danger of making the fact of God's sovereign care an excuse for inactivity. "Be sober, be watchful" perhaps reflects Peter's own experience in which Satan had "sifted" him (Luke 22:31) and he had failed to "watch" (Matt 26:38; Mark 14:34). God's sovereignty does not preclude peril to the Christian life. Peter calls Satan "your enemy the devil" and likens him to a lion in search of prey. The word "enemy" (antidikos, "adversary") meant an opponent in a lawsuit (cf. Job 1:6 ff.; Zech 3:1; Rev 12:10). "Devil" (diabolos) is the Greek translation of the Hebrew "Satan" (1 Chronicles 21:1; Job 2:1), which means `slanderer'. According to Scripture, he has great power on earth, "being the prince of this world" (John 14:30) and "the ruler of the kingdom of the air" (Eph 2:2). But God has limited his activity. Through his captive subjects (Eph 2:2; 2Tim 2:25-26), the devil attempted to destroy the infant church by persecution.)
1Corinthians 3: 1-3
Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual but as worldly—mere infants in Christ. I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. You are still worldly.
(Commentary - Paul calls the Corinthians "brothers" before reprimanding them for their spiritual immaturity. Not only had he not preached to them with persuasive words (2:1-5), but here he states he could not even speak to them as to those with spiritual maturity. They were acting immaturely as those motivated by the world's thoughts and actions. The word "spiritual"…applies to believers who are spiritually mature Christians—i.e., those led into maturity by the Spirit in contrast with the immature ones still controlled by the fleshly prejudices and viewpoints dominating the unsaved of the world. …He could not teach them deeper doctrines "solid food" because as infants in Christ they could not spiritually digest them. "Indeed you are still not ready," v. 2), emphasizes their continuing immaturity. The descriptive term "fleshly" further indicates that these Christians showed characteristics of spiritual immaturity. …To walk "according to man" (NIV, "acting like mere men") means to live only the way the ordinary sinful man lives—in selfishness, pride, and envy. – Expositor’s Bible Commentary)
Hebrews 12: 1
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.
(Commentary - With the great gallery of witnesses about us, it is important for us to run well. So we are to"Let us throw off everything that hinders." "Everything that hinders" may mean any kind of weight. Athletes carried nothing with them in a race, and the writer is suggesting that the Christian should "travel light." He is not referring to sin, for that follows in the next clause. Some things that are not wrong in themselves hinder us in putting forward our best effort. So the writer tells us to get rid of them. Christians must also put off every sin. Sin forms a crippling hindrance to good running. Christians then, are to lay aside all that could hinder them in their race and are to "run with perseverance." The author is not thinking of a short, sharp sprint but of a distance race that requires endurance and persistence. Everyone has from time to time a mild inclination to do good. The author is not talking about this but about the kind of sustained effort required of the long-distance runner who keeps on with great determination over the long course. That is what the heroes of faith did in their day, and it is that to which we are called. – Expositor’s Bible Commentary)
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Mark 9: 17-18
A man in the crowd answered, "Teacher, I brought you my son, who is possessed by a spirit that has robbed him of speech. Whenever it seizes him, it throws him to the ground. He foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to drive out the spirit, but they could not."
Observation from our Pastor: Jesus' disciples did not have the maturity and therefore not the power to drive out the spirit. Spiritual immaturity results in decreased spiritual strength and effectiveness.
Hebrews 10: 38
But my righteous one will live by faith. And if he shrinks back, I will not be pleased with him."
Observation from our Pastor: We displease the Lord when we shrink back from what we know we should do.
Matthew 8: 23-26
Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. Without warning, a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke him, saying, "Lord, save us! We're going to drown!" He replied, "You of little faith, why are you so afraid?" Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.
Observation from our Pastor: Because of their lack of maturity the disciples were unnecessarily overcome by fear.
1 Timothy 6: 6-10
But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
Observation from our Pastor: When we are immature we are easily led to wander from the faith.
James 1: 13-14
When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.
Observation from our Pastor: The more immature we are the more easily we are dragged away and enticed.
The Price We Pay In Eternity For Failing To Mature
There are eternal consequences for failing to mature as a Christian. God rewards people in eternity and places people in positions of responsibility there according to the faithfulness they demonstrated during their earthly life here. If we do not live the life God is calling us to live while we have the chance then we may forfeit recognition, reward, and responsibility in heaven. The New Testament teaches that all Christians will have to give an account of themselves before the Lord. At that time there will be no opportunities to go back and do our life over again. What we have done with our lives will be judged and evaluated. If we have not done what God wanted us to do then we may "suffer loss" although our souls will still be saved. If we have shown ourselves to not be trustworthy with what was entrusted to us here, then we may find ourselves not being given much to be trusted with in eternity.
That there will be differences in heaven based upon how seriously we take our Christian life here is surprising to some. We should not make too much or too little of this. On the one hand the differences will not be such that heaven will transformed into a place of misery and regret. All in heaven will be happy to be there and will celebrate the reward, recognition, and responsibility given to those who have distinguished themselves by praiseworthy service during their earthly life. On the other hand, the scriptures do warn us that there are some consequences we face if we shirk our Christian responsibilities.
Below I have included some important scriptures and commentary on those scriptures, as well as an excerpt from a helpful article on the subject of varying rewards in heaven.
Luke 19:11-27 Jesus' Parable of the Minas
While they were listening to this, he went on to tell them a parable, because he was near Jerusalem and the people thought that the kingdom of God was going to appear at once. He said: "A man of noble birth went to a distant country to have himself appointed king and then to return. So he called ten of his servants and gave them ten minas. `Put this money to work,' he said, `until I come back.'"But his subjects hated him and sent a delegation after him to say, `We don't want this man to be our king.'"He was made king, however, and returned home. Then he sent for the servants to whom he had given the money, in order to find out what they had gained with it. "The first one came and said, `Sir, your mina has earned ten more.'" `Well done, my good servant!' his master replied. `Because you have been trustworthy in a very small matter, take charge of ten cities.' "The second came and said, `Sir, your mina has earned five more.' "His master answered, `You take charge of five cities.' "Then another servant came and said, `Sir, here is your mina; I have kept it laid away in a piece of cloth. I was afraid of you, because you are a hard man. You take out what you did not put in and reap what you did not sow.' "His master replied, `I will judge you by your own words, you wicked servant! You knew, did you, that I am a hard man, taking out what I did not put in, and reaping what I did not sow? Why then didn't you put my money on deposit, so that when I came back, I could have collected it with interest? "Then he said to those standing by, `Take his mina away from him and give it to the one who has ten minas.' " `Sir,' they said, `he already has ten!' "He replied, `I tell you that to everyone who has, more will be given, but as for the one who has nothing, even what he has will be taken away. But those enemies of mine who did not want me to be king over them--bring them here and kill them in front of me.' "
From the Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament
Luke 19:11-27 has many points of reflection. The parable of the pounds (minas) is a warning that Jesus will be gone for some time and that on his return he will evaluate people’s faithfulness to him. Those who are faithful will be rewarded generously. Those who have the opportunity to serve should use it. Those who refuse to serve – because they view God as harsh – will be left with nothing but shame and judgment. Those who rebel and refuse to come near the king will receive severe judgment. To those who have, more will be given. But to those who do not have, even what they think they have will be taken away. There is an interim period in God’s plan in which those allied to God are called to serve him. The king is away and has received the kingdom, but he will return to evaluate the stewardship of all. Faith and faithfulness lead to spiritual growth and God’s pleasure. There is a great reward in faithfully responding to God’s gift. In the warning is a choice: service or rejection. One should see the Father’s gifts as acts of his grace, extended in kindness, to be used in his service. Which servant is the reader like: the commended servants who earned ten or five minas, the “other one” who received nothing, or the delegation that was slain? When Jesus returns, which category each person falls into will be revealed – and there will be no counter arguments
1st Corinthians 3: 10-15
By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should be careful how he builds. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man’s work. If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames.
From Various New Testament Commentaries
One’s life, what one builds, one’s work, must be appropriate to Jesus Christ, the normative foundation. That is the issue here. As with the exemplification of Paul and Apollos as God’s farm workers, so Paul’s depictions of the other builders are informative descriptions of what is expected of all the Corinthians. What is built, how it is built – “Let each watch how he or she builds” (1st Corinthians 3:9) – become metaphors for the life of faith. What in 1st Corinthians 3:1-9 was a matter of growth, whether of babies or plans, now in 1st Corinthians 3:10-15 becomes a matter of what one constructs, of what one builds upon the foundation. Paul is convinced that all believers must build (or grow), and all will face a judgment day, “the Day” in which their works (or their growth) will be tested. 1st Corinthians 3:13-15 refer to this day, characterized in accord with the building image, as a fire… What one builds upon the foundation – “the work of each builder (3:14)”, “what sort of work each one has done” (3:13) – will be tested by this judgment fire.
The reward or “wage” will be given to the one who own work “survives” the discerning test of judgment day’s fire (3:14); if someone’s work is consumed by the fire, that person suffers loss, though Paul expects that this worker may ultimately be saved “but only as through fire” (3:15).
Gratitude, thankfulness, the glorification of God must remain the prime impulse for all that we do. But we, like Paul before us, should recognize the rewards and wages can function as an encouragement for us and others to stay on track…
We must be clear, however, that Paul nowhere even hints that works can make one right with God. On the contrary, only the one who is right with God can (even must), by the assistance of God’s own grace, do works that that will be viewed favorably at the last day. So, it is always God’s grace, that free unmerited gift, which is at the heart of the life of faith and inspires all that one ever does, which motivates whatever building one constructs on the foundation that is Christ…
Grace leads to and prompts works, which in turn are recognized by God with favor. The process must spring forth from God’s empowering grace – otherwise, Paul’s gospel is irrevocably distorted… So reward talk is important and proper, but is easily distorted or misunderstood. - New Interpreter's Bible Commentary
"Those Christians whose works stand the test of fire (v. 14; cf. 1 Peter 1:7) will be rewarded (cf. Matt 25:14-30; Luke 19:11-27). Those whose works are consumed by the fire will themselves escape the flames (as if they were to jump out of the burning wooden structure they had built) and will be saved alone, without any works of praise to present to Christ.”) - Expositor’s Bible Commentary
“Because the foundation is Jesus Christ, everyone who builds on that foundation will be saved. But these believers will present to God the lives they have lived for him. Some of them will present lives of gold, silver, and jewels – lives built on the truth of the gospel and spent in sacrifice and service to God. These builders will receive a reward. Some will present lives that amount to no more than wood, hay, and straw, and all that they did and accomplished in this world will be burned up. These builders will be saved, but only as if they jumped out of a burning building and lost everything but their lives. They will enter heaven but will not receive the same reward as those who built well.” - The Life Application New Testament Commentary, p. 658
2nd Corinthians 5: 10
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.
From Various Bible Commentaries:
Paul reminds the Corinthians that “all of us” must appear before the “judicial bench” (bema) of Christ, where everyone will receive recompense for what he or she has done “in the body” (2nd Corinthians 5:10).
Paul’s attention is focused on the way believers must live their lives in the daily give-and-take of the world so that, when judgment does come…then they will pass muster at the judgment seat of Christ. Paul, ever the exemplar, declares in these verses that that he has no hesitance to look forward to that day because he knows that he lives every day of his life in such a fashion that the judgment of “what he has done in the body” – that is “in this life” – will be found acceptable and that his “recompense” will be “good”, not “worthless” or “bad”.
Not just he [Paul] but they [the Corinthians] will have to appear before the tribunal of Christ (cross reference Romans 14:10 where it is the bema of God), so that “each one can receive a recompense for what he or she has done in the body, whether good or evil.” (2nd Corinthians 5:10). The term translated as “receive a recompense” (komizo) is often used of wages, so the judgment is a sort of payback.
Paul expects a final assessment regarding what we have done in the day-to-day transactions of life. The judgment will not be on what one believes or on whether one has the right ideas. The judgment will not be levied on one’s faith, because faith is a free gift from God of right relationship to God (cross reference 1st Corinthians 12:9). Faith, the right relationship with God, expresses itself, works itself out, in love, in acts of love concretely expressed in daily life. So justification – being made right with God, which comes on the basis of God’s grace freely given – is indeed on the basis of grace through faith. But the judgment Paul expects is focused on the works faith has produced in the individuals life… - New Interpreter’s Bible Commentary, p.86-87
“Eternal life is a free gift given on the basis of God’s grace (Ephesians 2:8-9), but Christians’ lives will be judged by Christ. Salvation is never obtained by works (Romans 4:4-5), and this judgment before Christ will not determine believers’ eternal destiny. Instead, at this judgment, Christ will reward Christians for how they have lived in this body…..The passage warns the Corinthians…that they would received whatever they deserved for the good or evil they had done in their bodies. This is a sober reminder to all Christians that we must evaluate all we do from God’s perspective.” - Life Application New Testament Commentary, p.727
Not only was [Paul considering] his destiny with Christ (v. 8), but there was also his accountability to Christ (v. 10) requiring his compulsory attendance before the tribunal of Christ…The person thus scrutinized will then receive an equitable and full recompense ("what is due him"). Of whom is this attendance required? It is true that all men are accountable to God their maker and judge (Rom 2:1-11). In this context, however, Paul is thinking primarily, if not exclusively, of the Christian's obligation to "give an account of himself" (Rom 14:12). Appearance before Christ's tribunal is the privilege of Christians. It is concerned with the assessment of works and, indirectly, of character, not with the determination of destiny; with reward, not status. Judgment on the basis of works is not opposed to justification on the basis of faith. Delivered from "the works of the law" (Rom 3:28), the Christian is presently committed to "the work of faith," "action stemming from faith" (1 Thess 1:3), that will be assessed and rewarded at the bema ("tribunal"). Yet not all verdicts will be comforting. The believer may "suffer loss" (1Cor 3:15) by forfeiting Christ's praise or losing a reward that might have been his. – Expositors Bible Commentary
Further Scriptures Related To the Consequences We Face In Eternity For Failing To Mature
Luke 19:11-27 Jesus' Parable of the Minas
While they were listening to this, he went on to tell them a parable, because he was near Jerusalem and the people thought that the kingdom of God was going to appear at once. He said: "A man of noble birth went to a distant country to have himself appointed king and then to return. So he called ten of his servants and gave them ten minas. `Put this money to work,' he said, `until I come back.'"But his subjects hated him and sent a delegation after him to say, `We don't want this man to be our king.'"He was made king, however, and returned home. Then he sent for the servants to whom he had given the money, in order to find out what they had gained with it. "The first one came and said, `Sir, your mina has earned ten more.'" `Well done, my good servant!' his master replied. `Because you have been trustworthy in a very small matter, take charge of ten cities.' "The second came and said, `Sir, your mina has earned five more.' "His master answered, `You take charge of five cities.' "Then another servant came and said, `Sir, here is your mina; I have kept it laid away in a piece of cloth. I was afraid of you, because you are a hard man. You take out what you did not put in and reap what you did not sow.' "His master replied, `I will judge you by your own words, you wicked servant! You knew, did you, that I am a hard man, taking out what I did not put in, and reaping what I did not sow? Why then didn't you put my money on deposit, so that when I came back, I could have collected it with interest? "Then he said to those standing by, `Take his mina away from him and give it to the one who has ten minas.' " `Sir,' they said, `he already has ten!' "He replied, `I tell you that to everyone who has, more will be given, but as for the one who has nothing, even what he has will be taken away. But those enemies of mine who did not want me to be king over them--bring them here and kill them in front of me.' "
Observation from our Pastor: Not all of the servants received a “well done” from the master. The servants who did well with what they were given were rewarded accordingly in the master’s kingdom when he returned.
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Other Scriptures
2nd John 1: 8
Watch out that you do not lose what you have worked for, but that you may be rewarded fully.
Observation from our Pastor: The warning here implies that we forfeit some level of reward if we become complacent in the way we live our life before God.
Philippians 4: 14-17
Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles. Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the early days of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia, not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only; for even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me aid again and again when I was in need. Not that I am looking for a gift, but I am looking for what may be credited to your account.
Observation from our Pastor: Paul thanked the Philippians for their generosity to him in supporting his ministry. He says that the help they have given will be credited to their account. Apparently God is keeping an account open for us where deposits consist of those actions God delights in rewarding.
Matthew 6: 19-21
"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Observation from our Pastor: The treasure we dedicate to God is not “lost” to us. Just the opposite is true. The treasure we don’t dedicate to God is lost to us eventually because of moth, rust, and robbers. The treasure we dedicate to God is safely laid up in eternity for us. John Bunyan, the author of Pilgrim’s Progress, wrote, “Whatever good thing you do for Him, if done according to the Word, is laid up for you as treasure in chests and coffers, to be brought out to be rewarded before men and angels, to your eternal comfort.” (Quote from Bunyan taken from Money, Possessions, and Eternity, by Randy Alcorn, p.98)
1st Timothy 6: 18-19
Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.
Observation from our Pastor: The good deeds and generosity here result in treasure laid up and a firm foundation for eternity. The contrast seems to be that if we avoid serving God here and withhold generosity that we sacrifice something with regard to our treasure laid up and our firm foundation for eternity.
Ephesians 5: 7-8
Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men, because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free.
Observation from our Pastor: We should be careful how we work for others, even when they treat us unfairly, because God is watching and willing to reward us for whatever good we do.
2nd Peter 1: 5-11
For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins. Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Observation from our Pastor: Receiving a rich welcome in the kingdom seems to be based on our dedicated efforts to actually live the life God is wanting us to live.
Luke 16:1-13
Jesus told his disciples: "There was a rich man whose manager was accused of wasting his possessions. So he called him in and asked him, `What is this I hear about you? Give an account of your management, because you cannot be manager any longer.' "The manager said to himself, `What shall I do now? My master is taking away my job. I'm not strong enough to dig, and I'm ashamed to beg-- I know what I'll do so that, when I lose my job here, people will welcome me into their houses.' "So he called in each one of his master's debtors. He asked the first, `How much do you owe my master?' " `Eight hundred gallons of olive oil,' he replied. "The manager told him, `Take your bill, sit down quickly, and make it four hundred.' "Then he asked the second, `And how much do you owe?' " `A thousand bushels of wheat,' he replied. "He told him, `Take your bill and make it eight hundred.' "The master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly. For the people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the people of the light. I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings. "Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else's property, who will give you property of your own?
Observation from our Pastor: The lesson here is that we should use the resources we have control over here with eternity in mind. Notice that worldly wealth is contrasted with “true riches.” Also notice how “someone else’s property” is contrasted with “property of your own.” Because the earth is God’s property there are no true riches or property which can belong to us. In eternity, however, God intends to reward according to trustworthiness shown on earth. God rewards in eternity with true riches and property that will actually belong to the receivers. If we have not been trustworthy here, then we should not be surprised if we are not trusted with much in eternity.
Caution: God Doesn’t Owe Us Rewards
God generously rewards according to His own prerogative and judgment, not because He is in debt to us because of our service to Him. We should not bargain with God for reward or begrudge God for rewarding some more generously than we think they ought to be rewarded.
Luke 17: 8-10
"Suppose one of you had a servant plowing or looking after the sheep. Would he say to the servant when he comes in from the field, `Come along now and sit down to eat'? Would he not rather say, `Prepare my supper, get yourself ready and wait on me while I eat and drink; after that you may eat and drink'? 9 Would he thank the servant because he did what he was told to do? So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, `We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.' "
Observation from our Pastor: When we serve God we are only doing what we should and we do not earn any reward. All rewards are given because of God’s graciousness and not our worthiness.
Matthew 20: 1-16
"For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire men to work in his vineyard. He agreed to pay them a denarius for the day and sent them into his vineyard. "About the third hour he went out and saw others standing in the marketplace doing nothing. He told them, `You also go and work in my vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.' So they went. "He went out again about the sixth hour and the ninth hour and did the same thing. About the eleventh hour he went out and found still others standing around. He asked them, `Why have you been standing here all day long doing nothing?' " `Because no one has hired us,' they answered. "He said to them, `You also go and work in my vineyard.' "When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, `Call the workers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last ones hired and going on to the first.' "The workers who were hired about the eleventh hour came and each received a denarius. So when those came who were hired first, they expected to receive more. But each one of them also received a denarius. When they received it, they began to grumble against the landowner. `These men who were hired last worked only one hour,' they said, `and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the work and the heat of the day.' "But he answered one of them, `Friend, I am not being unfair to you. Didn't you agree to work for a denarius? Take your pay and go. I want to give the man who was hired last the same as I gave you. Don't I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?' "So the last will be first, and the first will be last."
Observation From Our Pastor: Those who bargained with the landowner got exactly what they bargained for. Those who trusted the landowner to pay whatever was fair received more than they expected. The lesson is not that it doesn’t matter what we do because God rewards everyone equally no matter what. The lesson to be learned is that God can be as generous in rewarding as he wants. We are in no position to judge God’s generosity to another, even if it seems to us that they receive more than they deserve. Everyone will be rewarded fairly, but God reserves the right to be extravagant because everything belongs to Him.