QT 22 Jan 14, Our rewards communicate our thankfulness

Matt 10:40-42 (ESV) "Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me.  41  The one who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet's reward, and the one who receives a righteous person because he is a righteous person will receive a righteous person's reward.  42 And whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward."

NOTE: Three times Jesus mentions a reward for something done while on earth. Two of the rewards are distinctly different from the last reward suggesting that all of the rewards are different and are based on service. Rewards are earned, salvation is free. One reward is called a prophet's reward, another a righteous person's reward, and the last "his" reward. The use of the word "his" suggests even more strongly that the rewards are personal and unique. But why do we seek a reward? I think there are two reasons. One, we are designed to seek gratification, but we seek it in a sinful manner. We are designed to achieve success. We are gratified when we are successful. It is not necessarily always a bad things. Secondly, our rewards honor God because they communicate our gratefulness for our salvation. The picture of this is the throwing of the crowns by the elders at Jesus' feet. What will we have to give back to the Lord that says we appreciated our salvation? We can never repay our salvation, the cost of the gift was too high, but we can say thankful for the gift. And the degree to which we can say thanks is measured by our earned rewards.