Don’t get me wrong, I am not into getting persecuted.
I mean if it is your thing, fine, go right ahead. I will wait for you outside.
Nevertheless, beatitude #9 (Mt 5.11-12) does pull me to attention.
Not so much for the persecution but for the bonus that comes with it.
Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.
Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
I do muse a lot on rewards in heaven and their opposites in the hot place.
I always include the topic when I teach the Gospel of Matt at Bible school.
Mostly cuz not a whole lot of people never touch on it.
Jesus tells the bad guys that some of them will get it hotter than the flaming folks of Sodom and Gomorrah.
Paul speaks in fiery terms as well, telling us that some Christians are lazily living lives that are wood, hay and stubble.
They’ll get in the door (grace is good that way) but it will be by the skin of their teeth.
The Golden Guys and Gals (actually Paul also makes reference to silver and precious stones, but it’s harder for me to do my little alliteration thing with all those words), are living their lives with a purpose, and they will get a reward!
At least, that is how I read 1 Corinthian 3.12-15, and the Gospels.
But I also keep in mind the Malachi money message.
God invites His people to “put Him to the test.”
He suggests, “Bring in the tithe” and then promises
“I will open the windows of heaven for you and pour down blessings.”
My take on that is, “Great. That’s swell.”
But I do not want to do the right thing for the wrong reason.
I do not want to be obedient in giving to God what’s His,
so that some windows get open to pour things down my way.
I want to be obedient in giving to God because God is God, and I am here to obey.
Period.
I don’t need bribing, I’m not chasing a carrot on a string.
Rewards are nice, but I want to live my life right because I am thankful for Who He is and what He has done.
Period. Period.