May 25

Rich or Richer?


How we praise God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we belong to Christ…. Furthermore because of Christ, we have received an inheritance from God … and I want you to realize what a rich and glorious inheritance he has given to his people.

Ephesians 1:3,11,18b (NLT)

Now anyone who builds on that foundation may use gold, silver, jewels, wood, hay or straw. But there is going to come a time of testing at the judgment day … If the work survives the fire, that builder will receive a reward.

1 Corinthians 3:12-14 (NLT)

I recently read of a baseball pitcher whose salary negotiation went to arbitration. He had submitted a huge salary figure to the arbitrator. The team submitted their offer as well. After the professional ball player lost his case, he mused, “No problem. I was either going to wake up tomorrow rich or richer.”

I sense many Christians have the same attitude toward eternity. They know they are saved, they have received God's free gift of salvation. They know they will enjoy heaven, and the thought pleases them, but if they don’t get a reward, or a crown from Christ, their attitude seems to be, “No problem. At least I‘ll be there.” In a sense, it’s good to have security, but in a more serious sense, it’s a shame we've lost our passion to do what God has called us to do. For, unlike the baseball player coming out of arbitration, the rewards we fail to receive at the Judgment Seat of Christ, but could have received, will be missed. God has left His work in our hands. The choice to perform in His power is ours.

Do we want to be rich or so much richer?


Father, motivate me to do the work you call me to. Help me to build wisely on Your solid foundation of salvation. Help me to run this race well. Amen.