How much are Christians to do to receive a Reward?

[TrueFollowerOfChrist]

Jesus said that even a cup of water given in his name would earn a reward.  So clearly every deed done for God will have a reward,  even small things that most would overlook, like picking up random trash, stacking chairs at church,  and possibly even giving someone on the street a kind smile or hello. 

[Raven]

3 hours ago, Vine Abider said:

All Christians must appear before the Judgement Seat (Greek: Bema) of Christ as per 2nd Corinthians 5:10.  We are told this is accountability for what we have done in this body, or in other words, our works.  But what is the measurement, that is, how much do we need to do to be pass this examination and be rewarded?  Is it bringing 100 souls to the Lord?  Feeding the poor 1,000 times?  Loving each other 67.5% of the time? 

Or perhaps it's the high-bar measurement of what the Lord spoke in Matthew 5 - aka "the beatitudes."  If the bar doesn't seem high enough in that chapter, at the end of that discourse Jesus says, "Be perfect as your Father in heaven is perfect."

What is the measurement the Lord will use? 

Your lack of neediness. . . even the need for a reward.

[JohnR7]

5 hours ago, Vine Abider said:

What is the measurement the Lord will use? 

He goes by holiness, sanctification and being set apart from the world unto God. We need to be separated from the goats. We are to walk in love so that people know that we are different. We are to love our enemy and do good to those who intend to harm us. So we return good for their evil. 

[JohnR7]

1 hour ago, Raven said:

Your lack of neediness. . . even the need for a reward.

Our left hand is not to know what our right hand is doing. We walk in humility, so we do not even know the good we do. Which works out real good sense, it is rare for people to ever show any gratitude for what we do for them. 

[Space_Karen]

In this world, there are usually no tangible rewards offered for those who speak the truth.

While those who speak lies have piles of money thrown at them. 

The path of material reward based motivation is more atheist than christian.

Although atheists do not necessarily live well or thrive over the long term to enjoy their ill gotten gains which usually come at the expense of corruption, greed and misery.

If christians receive rewards they would be received in heaven and last forever. While rewards of the earth are only temporary.

But I think that the best christian mindset is to do the right thing and not expect a reward for it. 

 

[Raven]

2 hours ago, JohnR7 said:

Our left hand is not to know what our right hand is doing. We walk in humility, so we do not even know the good we do. Which works out real good sense, it is rare for people to ever show any gratitude for what we do for them. 

The human ego is nothing but a self-fabricated identity story to believe in. Deep down, humans know that this story is invalid, yet we keep trying to believe that it is valid. The ego can go to great lengths, including murder, to maintain a sense of validity. Validity is always sought by the ego, and this is what is also called a 'reward'.

The ego will exploit others in very cunning ways in the hope to exploit themselves as valid. They invest in others to get their neediness fulfilled, and if they don't get it, fear rules them. For instance, anger is the fear of not coping with change, or with things not going their way... the way they need it to to feel valid again.

Most of this reward hunting is done in subtle ways. Once a person becomes aware of their own exploitations, they become sensitive to these subtleties. They soon realize that the whole world operates this way. They also learn to accept anything not going their way. They become adaptable and serene to go with the flow, and experience great serenity from being released from the bondage of ego-self. They become essentially fearless _ never angry, resentful, jealous, envious, anxious, or blame others. They become patient, tolerant, forgiving, accepting, flexible, allowing, and loving unconditionally.

[Sower]

1 hour ago, JohnR7 said:

Which works out real good sense, it is rare for people to ever show any gratitude for what we do for them.

"it is rare for people to ever show any gratitude for what we do for them"

That may be your experience but not mine. I cannot remember having done some small deed that I wasn't repaid with a gracious appreciation, or maybe just a simple smile and thanks in payment. That feeling that permeates your soul having helped someone God leads us to, gives a great peace, fellowship, with our creator.   What better payment.

I learned a lot through our church men's work day, and ministry to local neighborhoods. A lot of needs out there.
It is often difficult for some to accept any charity and almost refuse our help. This opens the door to explain how it is not us men but our God who is the one they need to thank, and we are just his hands. This can lead to more discussion and seeds planted.

I would say, for myself, it is very very rare when someone does not show their thanks in some way.
Also, it is not I but Christ in me, that is doing the work, through me. Abide.
Then I just wait for the next opportunity/instructions to arrive. And they will, in God's timing.

To clarify, were it not God moving upon me I would rather be fishing with my wife. I know this, and understand. So does God.

[JohnR7]

20 minutes ago, Raven said:

The human ego is nothing but a self-fabricated identity story to believe in.

I am not much for ego. I got rid of it a long time ago. 

[JohnR7]

10 minutes ago, Sower said:

This opens the door to explain how it is not us men but our God who is the one they need to thank, and we are just his hands.

I am not talking about healing or anything like that. Of course, if we are a vessel to be used by God, we give Him all the praise, honor and glory. My wife is from the Philippines and I have given them thousands and thousands of dollars and did not even get a thank-you back from them. We are told our reward is in Heaven and do not expect anything here on the earth. Of course we are told: "Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” Luke 6:8

There are people who have a greater need than us. So why would we keep things to ourselves if they need them more than we do?

[JohnR7]

1 hour ago, Space_Karen said:

The path of material reward based motivation is more atheist than christian.

I noticed that. People like Oprah and the women that writes the Harry Potter books have lots and lots of money. Oprah attributes it to the law of attraction, which I do support. Jesus tells us whatever reward she had coming, she has already collected.

Matthew 6:1 And beware not to do your righteousness before men in order to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward in the presence of your Father in the heavens...  Truly I tell you, they already have their full reward.