Doing Good for Good Pay

 

A story was told about a small boy wanting to buy a watermelon from an old farmer. The boy was willing to pay one dollar for a delicious melon still attached to the vine. The old farmer said, “Nope. I get four dollars for a melon like that one.” The boy pointed to a small melon two rows over and said, “How about a dollar for that one?” The old farmer smiled and took the boy’s dollar, and said, “It’s a deal.” The boy returned the smile and said, “Deal! I’ll pick it up about this time next week.” Sometimes the best deals are made when we’re willing to wait. Patience is always a key ingredient toward success.

Several missionaries were having coffee one afternoon, when an ant appeared on the white tablecloth, made its way to the plate of donuts, walked around it, and made straight for the sugar bowl. After eating several bites, it walked off with a small piece. They watched the ant disappear under the door only to return a few minutes later with several of its relations. They climbed the table leg, entered the sugar bowl, and ate their fill. Then they departed, each with a morsel of sugar in its mouth. But it didn’t end there. Presently, a swarm of ants arrived to partake of the same sweet food, leaving with abundant stores for home. These ants teach us a lesson. The first went and told others of the “good news,” who in turn, went and told the glad story to many more. Like Isaiah, the demonic, the woman of Samaria, and others, we must “go and tell” the glad story of God’s redeeming love that all may share in the grace of forgiveness found in God’s kingdom of sweet rest.

[John 15:5] Have you ever had the feeling that after all is said and done, that all your talking and working had been wasted? Most people seem to have some experience of this sort from time to time. Yet, the Lord reminded His followers, “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.” The apostle Paul wrote, “...be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15:58).

Toiling for the Lord is never a wasted effort, no matter whether we see the immediate results we had hoped for or not. To teach a lost one and have them reject the gospel message is not a wasted effort. It is never in vain to do God’s will. To encourage a weak Christian to remain faithful and yet see that person turn away from Christ and the church is not a wasted effort. You have shown your love for God and for your neighbor. You have obeyed God. Obedience is never a wasted effort. Jesus died for all mankind, yet most will not come to Him for salvation. Who can say that His self-sacrifice on the cross was a wasted effort?

It is human nature to get tired of doing anything that is not going as one expected. Therefore, God has encouraged us through the pen of Paul, “And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith” (Galatians 6:9-10). Doing good is doing God’s will. We must not give upon doing good because God will reward us at the proper time.

“Bondservants, obey in all things your master’s according to the flesh, not with eyeservice, as men pleasers, but in sincerity of the heart, fearing God. And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of inheritance, for you serve the Lord Christ. But he who does wrong will be repaid for what he has done, and there is no partiality” (Colossians 3:22-25).

He who does God’s work will get God’s pay; He does not pay as others pay; And this is sure, let come what may; He who does God’s work will get God’s pay! Everlasting life!