ANCHOR SCRIPTURES: Obadiah 1:17

INTRODUCTION

God is a God who rewards people. According to Hebrews 11:6 and Revelation 22:12, rewards are given in recognition of service, effort, achievement, contribution, or value provided, much like an award.

Rewarding others is both a divine and human principle. Both God and man honour the reward system, and even the kingdom of darkness acknowledges its significance. People have progressed to various levels in life through rewards.

The reason God rewards people is that humans are motivated by incentives and reward systems. Serving the Lord comes with benefits, as seen in Psalms 103:2 and 1 Corinthians 15:58.

The Bible mentions seven types of crowns, and people will be rewarded based on the level of their contributions to God's kingdom purposes.

What God rewards

1. Diligent pursuit. Hebrews 11:6, Jeremiah 29:13

2. Faithfulness. Matthew 25:14-25, Galatians 6:9

3. Sacrifice. Psalms 50:5, Luke 18:7

4. The works of men. 1 Corinthians 3:12-15.

To possess something means to make it yours through experience. God has delivered your portion, but you must know how to contend for it in battle (Deuteronomy 2:24).

Two key points to understand about our works:

1. Our works and actions in the Kingdom do not all carry the same value in the spiritual realm.

2. Certain works in Kingdom activities are considered mighty works and are deemed rewardable.

 

What Makes Our Work Mighty and Weighty in the Spirit

The works of men are tested by specific parameters to determine their reward ability. These parameters include:

1. A Pure and Sincere Heart

God examines the purity and sincerity of our hearts (2 Chronicles 25:1-2, Ephesians 6:6, John 12:5-6). The motive behind our actions matters more than the activity itself. For example, someone may build a house for God or make a generous donation, but if their heart is not pure, their work lacks spiritual weight.

The motivation behind our actions—whether it is rehearsing, singing, praying, ushering, or preaching—determines their value. For some, these activities might stem from a desire to build a career, while for others; the goal is to glorify Jesus. God weighs the works of men based on their motives.

According to psychology, the six basic needs of humanity are Security, Newness, Significance, Love and acceptance, Growth, Impact and contribution.

While these needs are valid, an obsession with fulfilling them can lead to a drift from a pure heart. It is essential that our motives remain aligned with bringing glory to God. The ultimate goal is for our lives to acknowledge God. Any accolades, recognition, or praise we receive should pass through us to Him, not remain with us. God receives maximum glory when our actions are motivated by a genuine desire to honour Him.

2. Love for Jesus and Love for Men

Scripture emphasizes that love for God must align with love for others. As 1 John 4:20 teaches, it is impossible to claim love for God while harbouring hatred for others. Genuine love is the hallmark of discipleship, as Jesus said in John 13:35: "By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."

Love is greater than wisdom, spiritual impartation, or any other spiritual gift. Paul highlights this truth in 1 Corinthians 13:1-3, 8, showing that even the most extraordinary acts are meaningless without love. The highest expression of love is sacrificial, as seen in John 15:13: "Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends."

The excellent way to minister is through love: Preach in love, give in love, correct in love, Counsel in love. Even God demonstrates His love through discipline. As Hebrews 12:6 reminds us, "The Lord disciplines those He loves."

 

Six Activities that Carry Marvellous Weight In the Realm of the Spirit

Not every work we do is rewardable in the spiritual realm. However, the following six activities are weighty and significant. These must be engaged with a pure heart and love for Jesus and others:

1. The Ministry of Warfare and Intercession

(Ezekiel 22:30, Luke 2:37)

Intercession involves standing in prayer to align with God’s will and purposes. Man, as God’s steward on earth, plays a critical role in manifesting divine plans. Without human participation, ordained blessings may be delayed or even aborted.

Every genuine intercessor is a weighty individual in the spiritual realm, as they pray for the unfolding of God’s programs across the earth. Intercession reflects cooperation between God and humanity to bring His plans to fruition.

2. Soul Winning

(Daniel 12:3, Proverbs 11:30, Proverbs 3:35)

Soul winning is a corporate mandate for all believers, transcending career or profession. As 1 Timothy 2:4 expresses, God desires all men to be saved. Mark 16:15 commands believers to "go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature."

The word preach means to declare the Word, not to force others or engage in fruitless arguments. Sharing the gospel should be done with wisdom, aiming to touch lives and bring them into God’s kingdom.

3. Discipleship

(Matthew 28:19)

Discipleship involves transforming nations through the power of God’s Word, or contributing to that transformative process. An example of participation is serving as a worker in the house of God. To teach means to bring comprehension of the Word to others. To preach means to declare the Word as it is.

The teaching ministry requires not only a thorough knowledge of God’s Word, but also the ability to effectively communicate it to people. Discipleship aims to raise transformed and empowered believers who live out Kingdom principles.

4. Raising Leaders

(Matthew 9:36, 2 Chronicles 15:3)

The state of any nation or society reflects the quality of its leaders. Scripture highlights three key elements for societal stability: True God, teaching priests, the law.

The church is called to be the light of the world (Matthew 5:14) and must actively contribute to shaping society by raising spiritual, political, and societal leaders. These leaders are equipped to play active roles in building and transforming communities.

Jesus Himself condemned bad leadership in Matthew 23:13-29, where He rebuked leaders who misused their influence to manipulate others. Leaders shape the philosophies and ideas of those they lead, and their failure can harm the moral and spiritual fabric of society.

As the church, our responsibility is to model a godly society and ensure that the light we carry is applied meaningfully in the world around us.

5. Kingdom Financing

(1 Timothy 6:17-19, Philippians 4:10-19)

Believers have a kingdom responsibility to make resources available for advancing God’s work. Unfortunately, it is disheartening when manipulation is used to encourage giving.

Giving is sowing: While financial rewards can follow giving, it should never be treated as a mere transaction. A mandate, not a transaction: Giving in the Kingdom is a commitment to ensure the continuity of God’s program on earth. We are called to give in proportion to the level of blessing God has given us, as part of kingdom partnership. Kingdom financing is a revelation—a commitment to make financial resources available for God’s work without coercion or manipulation. It is an act of stewardship and partnership with God’s mission.

6. Acts of Charity

(Matthew 25:31-46)

The Bible highlights specific acts of charity that reflect the heart of God: feeding the hungry, giving water to the thirsty, caring for the sick, and visiting those in prison. Charity is not simply a societal initiative (e.g., by the UN or UNESCO); it is a biblical mandate.

A divine responsibility: Charity is part of our corporate social responsibility as believers (2 Corinthians 9:8, James 1:27). A large-hearted approach: True charity requires a generous heart, not necessarily great wealth (Deuteronomy 15:10-11).

Expression of faith: Acts of kindness reflect the love of God and demonstrate His nature to the world. Charity goes beyond material abundance. It involves giving with a heart committed to meeting the needs of others, as an extension of God’s love and provision.