Okay, so, why train in godliness?

This morning I continued my study on training in godliness in 1 Corinthians 9:25-27 which reads:

"Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize."

So according to this verse:

Why do we train?

To receive a crown that will last forever, and that we will not be disqualified for the prize.

How do we train?

Strictly, as for a competition. With purpose. Having total self-control over our bodies.

This verse also brought up the idea that we can loose the prize--not our salvation, but our reward in heaven:

"If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man’s work. If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames." ~ 1 Corinthians 3:12-15

"Watch out that you do not lose what you have worked for, but that you may be rewarded fully." ~ 2 John 8

"Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done." ~ Revelation 22:12

"Be careful not to do your ‘acts of righteousness’ before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven." ~ Mt 6:1

I know I can be tempted to think that, in heaven, everything will be completely equal and fair, etc., but clearly, these verses say otherwise. Some will receive more than others based on their works.

So what is this reward? Matthew 5 and Luke 6 both say that it will be "great" and "in heaven". Not to say that God doesn't reward us on earth, but the reward it's talking about here is certainly in heaven. Colossians 3 says that our reward is an inheritance from the Lord. I don't think we can even begin to fathom what an inheritance from the God of the Universe would be!! And also, in the parables of the talents (Mt 25) and the minas (Luke 19), there is something in our reward that is taking charge over something/ruling.

I guess the biggest question is, how do we gain this reward? Scripture has plenty to say about this:

Mt 6:3-4 says-- "But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you."

Mt 10:40-42 -- "He who receives you receives me, and he who receives me receives the one who sent me. Anyone who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and anyone who receives a righteous man because he is a righteous man will receive a righteous man’s reward. And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward.”

Ephesians 6:7-8 -- "Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men, because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free."

Colossians 3:23-24 -- "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving."

Hebrews 11:24-26 -- "By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time. He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward."

Hebrews 11:6 -- "And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him."

Hebrews 10:36 -- "You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised."

If you would like to learn more about our heavenly reward, there's a great, short devotional book called "A Life God Rewards" by Bruce Wilkinson that goes deeper on the subject, and is very Scripture based.

~~~

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." ~ Matthew 6:19-21

In Christ,

Ellie