Hebrews 11:6 English Standard Version (ESV) And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

Who expects a reward for faithfulness? Is that biblical? If not based on the promises of God, what then? When God makes a promise, He will keep it. When we hope for a reward that is not based on God’s word we have developed an unrealistic expectation. Disappointment is sure to follow.

More than just a human hope, we begin to allow a reward to be the reason for service. Love should be the only motivation for service and its own reward. So what are these rewards spoken of by the author of Hebrews? We may find them in two areas of our lives, grace and growth.

Unmerited favor manifests itself in the way we are treated. We are no longer strangers alienated from God. Grace finds its way into our lives by the will of God without respect of service. Growth however comes by living this life by faith and seeking God in every aspect of relationship. Prayer, studies, meditation and fellowship require us to be participants. Without it, we stagnate and there is no growth.

How does growth play into the reward factor? Let us take a lesson out of our lives. When we are children we are protected from harm and are not allowed to engage in certain activities until our bodies grow to a level of maturity that allows participation. Age limits are set for joining little league baseball is one example. It is not that much different in kingdom living.

Do we see being matured in Christ as a reward? Do we see serving God in ministry as a reward? Do we see knowing God more intimately as a reward?

If not, why not?