More Than Participants by David Jeremiah

Wednesday, June 14

More Than Participants 

But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. 
Romans 14:10 

Recommended Reading 1 Corinthians 3:11-15

It started in California in the 1980s with an initiative to increase the self-esteem of inner-city kids: awarding participation trophies just for showing up. In addition to awarding trophies to winners, every participant was given a trophy for participating in the activity.

The Bible doesn’t say anything about participation rewards—rewards just for being a Christian. Rather, heavenly rewards will be based on motivation. Did we serve Christ on earth for our own glory or for His? Were we motivated by the praise of men or for the praise of God in heaven? The apostle Paul used the metaphor of a building to compare the two motivations. A house built of “gold, silver, [and] precious stones” will be rewarded; a house built of “wood, hay, [and] straw” will be consumed by the fire of Christ’s judgment (1 Corinthians 3:11-15). There is no reward mentioned just for participating as a Christian in God’s kingdom.

Every day is another day of building our spiritual house, a day that cannot be undone. Choose today to serve Christ for His glory.

Hell is the highest reward that the devil can offer you for being a servant of his.
Billy Sunday