Rewarded Openly By God

[BenFTW]

When you read Matthew you'll notice that it addresses doing things hypocritically, for the sake of appearing pious/religious before others. Matthew mentions three different activities that when done in secret the Lord will bless you or reward you openly. As opposed to those who do these things to look good before others, you do it before the Lord and He will reward you.

Matthew 6:4 King James Version (KJV)

4 That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.

Matthew 6:6 King James Version (KJV)

6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.


Matthew 6:18 King James Version (KJV)

18 That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.

First is giving, followed by praying and then fasting. Each of these can be done openly to receive the praises of man but if you do them before God instead of men the Lord will reward you. How awesome is that? Lets not forget the fact that in each of these activities there are benefits, but God goes beyond those and adds even more. Giving leads to financial blessings (that is good stewardship), praying leads to results (for the promises of God are "yes" and "amen" in Christ Jesus), and fasting quiets the flesh and mind as you focus on the Lord (where throughout the Bible believers fasted so their petitions would be heard and granted, a way of showing who their Source and Deliverer was).

On top of these benefits from these activities the Lord then says to do it in secret and before Him only and He will bless you before others. So even what glory you have before men is supplied of God, a testament to His faithfulness. A witness to the living God! Seek not vain glory in the eyes of men but seek to please the Lord. He then will reward you before all, and what honor is it that He should so seek to glorify Himself through you? Rejoice!

 

[BenFTW]

I never really did get a response from this thread, and I feel like bumping it to see what others think about this topic of God openly rewarding us for certain activities. Giving, praying, and fasting are the activities mentioned, that if done in secret God will openly reward you. What do you suppose these rewards are?

 

[TrevorAR]

I never really did get a response from this thread, and I feel like bumping it to see what others think about this topic of God openly rewarding us for certain activities. Giving, praying, and fasting are the activities mentioned, that if done in secret God will openly reward you. What do you suppose these rewards are?

I would say it's probably more in eternity at the judgement seat of Christ that we will see the open rewards.

 

[PennEd]

I would say it's probably more in eternity at the judgement seat of Christ that we will see the open rewards.

Yes. The context of these passages and the subsequent rewards is laid out by Jesus in verses 19-21
[h=3]Lay Up Treasures in Heaven[/h][FONT=&quot]19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.[/FONT]

 

[MessageOfTheCross]

Proper Faith that is placed and maintained exclusively in Christ and the Finished Work at Calvary's Cross where the victory was won will always produce proper works produced by the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:2, Zech. 4:6).

The Bush can burn but it will not be consumed (The Holy Spirit); but if it is of the flesh, it will be consumed (Exodus 3:2).

JSM

 

[Blain]

honestly i never even saw this thread. For me I think he rewards with me with the having and knowing more of him and having more of his heart and his eyes, and he could never give me anything better than that

 

[Nehemiah6]

He then will reward you before all, and what honor is it that He should so seek to glorify Himself through you? Rejoice!

Since Christians on earth are promised afflictions, trials, tribulations, testings, persecutions, and martyrdom, when Christ speaks of rewarding "openly" is is probably a reference to the rewards which will be dispensed at the Judgment Seat of Christ. All believers will be present and the rewards will be open before all. At the same time Christians are blessed with all SPIRITUAL blessings even while they suffer.