REWARDS – NOW OR LATER
I look around me and I recognize how blessed I truly am. I have a roof over my head, I have plenty of food to eat, I have a good job, I have a phenomenal wife, I have awesome friends and an awesome family. I have troubles just like everyone else does and the caliber is subjective depending on who is judging. Some of these troubles are trivial and I just have to ride out the seasons or events and some are longer term like broken relationships with family and/or friends or illnesses. Sometimes our struggles seem so much bigger to us than to those that are on the outside looking in. For most of us, we’ve got it pretty stinkin’ good and have very little to complain about. Some people have some pretty legit stuff going on but have to find a way to be positive and press through.
Sometimes we all get frustrated with things going on around us that are out of our control. Let’s use government for example. Regardless of what side of the party lines you reside on, we get frustrated on many different levels. I personally get sick of being punished for doing things right while others are rewarded for doing things wrong. I’m a hard working, coupon clipping, frugal and responsible young man that seemingly gets punished for those things while other lazy people get benefits for free that I break my back trying to earn. I see prisoners getting a better lifestyle than our elderly… and many of us on some levels. When is the last time you have had free room and board, free meals, free education, free gym membership, free cable, free laundry…etc as a reward for doing bad things. I know it’s not that simple but some of these types of example really get under our skin sometimes… and rightfully so. Many times our systems give little inspiration to do better, to try harder and to strive to be the best that we can be. It often rewards laziness and punishes success.
I try my best to be a man of integrity. I remind myself that those responsible for making stupid and seemingly unfair rules are accountable for their actions. Sometimes I want to be the enforcer and regulator for things that I see as unjust but that’s not my job. I read these scriptures and it changes my mindset:
Jeremiah 17:10 – I the LORD search the heart and examine the mind, to reward each person according to their conduct, according to what their deeds deserve.
Jeremiah 20:11 - But the LORD is with me like a mighty warrior; so my persecutors will stumble and not prevail. They will fail and be thoroughly disgraced; their dishonor will never be forgotten.
Colossians 3:23-24 - Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, 24 since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.
Perspective is sometimes a tough pill to swallow but I know that God is bigger than our struggles. Don’t give up when is seems unfair. Don’t stop because it doesn’t seem worth it. Work hard, play hard, pray hard and don’t forget to include God into your daily routine… He is worth the investment!