January -March 2023
Managing for the Master Till He Comes
Chief Contributor: Edward Reid

INTRODUCTION:

Quoting from lesson:
In this quarter's lessons we will study God's ideal in our relationship with Him and clearly see how we can develop a trust so deep that we will remain faithful to Him, even when we can't buy or sell!
This kind of faith does not come up overnight, by faithfully managing what God has given us, we can be prepared even now, for what ever is coming our way.
God is the One with the resources, and when we work with Him He allows us tp handle them for Him It is the Savior's purpose that human beings purified and sanctified, shall be His helping hand,

This should also be an interesting three months of study and discussion.

Stewardship:

There is a vision in EGW's writings that help to understand the lesson's point on laying up treasure in heaven, not on earth where thieves and moths destroy it.

THE TWO CROWNS

"Chapter 27: The Two Crowns, in Christian Experience and Teaching of Ellen G. White.

In a vision given me at Battle Creek, Michigan, October 25, 1861, I was shown this earth, dark and gloomy. Said the angel, "Look carefully!" Then I was shown the people upon the earth. Some were surrounded by angels of God, others were in total darkness, surrounded by evil angels. I saw an arm reached down from heaven, holding a golden scepter. On the top of the scepter was a crown, studded with diamonds. Every diamond emitted light, bright, clear, and beautiful. Inscribed upon the crown were these words: "All who win me are happy, and shall have everlasting life." {CET 161.1}

Below this crown was another scepter, and upon this also was placed a crown, in the center of which were jewels, gold, and silver, reflecting some light. The inscription upon the crown was: "Earthly treasure. Riches is power. All who win me have honor and fame." I saw a vast multitude rushing forward to obtain this crown. They were clamorous. Some in their eagerness seemed bereft of reason. They would thrust one another, crowding back those who were weaker than they, and trampling upon those who in their haste fell. Many eagerly seized hold of the treasures within the crown, and held them fast. The heads of some were as white as silver, and their faces were furrowed with care and anxiety. Their own relatives, bone of their bone, and flesh of their flesh, they regarded not; but, as appealing looks were turned to them, they held their treasures more firmly, as though fearful that in an unguarded moment they should lose a little, or be induced to divide with them. Their eager eyes would often fasten upon the earthly crown, and count and recount its treasures. {CET 161.2}

Images of want and wretchedness appeared in that multitude, and looked wishfully at the treasures there, and turned hopelessly away as the stronger overpowered and drove back the weaker. Yet they could not give it up thus, but with a multitude of deformed, sickly, and aged, they sought to press their way to the earthly crown. Some died in seeking to reach it. Others fell just in the act of taking hold of it. Many had but just laid hold of it when they fell. Dead bodies strewed the ground, yet on rushed the multitude, trampling over the fallen and dead bodies of their companions. Everyone who reached the crown possessed a share in it, and was loudly applauded by an interested company standing around it. {CET 162.1}

A large company of evil angels were very busy. Satan was in the midst of them, and all looked with the most exulting satisfaction upon the company struggling for the crown. He seemed to throw a peculiar charm upon those who eagerly sought it. {CET 162.2}

Many who sought this earthly crown were professed Christians. Some of them seemed to have a little light. They would look wishfully upon the heavenly crown, and would often seem charmed with its beauty, yet they had no true sense of its value and glory. While with one hand they were reaching forth languidly for the heavenly, with the other they reached eagerly for the earthly, determined to possess that; and in their earnest pursuit for the earthly, they lost sight of the heavenly. They were left in darkness, yet were anxiously groping about to secure the earthly crown. {CET 162.3}

Some became disgusted with the company who sought it so eagerly; they seemed to have a sense of their danger, and turned from it, and earnestly sought for the heavenly crown. The countenances of such soon changed from dark to light, from gloom to cheerfulness and holy joy. {CET 162.4}

I then saw a company pressing through the crowd with their eyes intently fixed upon the heavenly crown. As they earnestly urged their way through the disorderly crowd, angels attended them, and made room for them to advance. As they neared the heavenly crown, the light emanating from it shone upon them and around them, dispelling their darkness, and growing clearer and brighter, until they seemed to be transformed, and resembled the angels. They cast not one lingering look upon the earthly crown. Those who were in pursuit of the earthly, mocked them, and threw black balls after them. These did them no injury while their eyes were fixed upon the heavenly crown, but those who turned their attention to the black balls were stained with them. The following scripture was presented before me: {CET 163.1}

"Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. .. No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. (CET 163.2)

To view source and also the second half of this article in which the vison is interpreted, go to--
https://m.egwwritings.org/en/book/11.776

The question is asked last quarter
"The question is whether the description of Isaiah 65:17- 25 is a representation of the eschatological new heavens and new earth? *It becomes clear that Isaiah 65 does not describe the eschatological picture in the same way as it is described in Revelation 21, 22,* because death, sin, curse, marriage and birth are included.

Isaiah 64:17-25 was God's wish for Israel.

When reading the blessings and curses in today's lesson,( Deut. 28) it was clear, those blessings were God's intentions for the nation of Israel back then. Most of the blessings were physical blessings of prosperity, health, safety, protection, honour and possession. If they had diligently hearkened unto the Lord, and trusting and obeying, lived according to His commands, Isaiah's depiction of the "new earth" would have become their reality. People would have still died of ripe old age, but their nation would have been the next thing to paradise.

Sadly, though some of the blessings were realized, for God patiently cared for and protected them in spite of their waywardness, yet, the curses became their greater result and reality due to their failing to "diligently harken" and depend fully on God in obedience and trust.

It's easy to reflect on Israel, but what about our world today? Yes, we still enjoy many blessings, and we thank God for them, but the curses are gaining, the world is rushing on into destruction. How do we respond?

Many questions flooded my mind as I read the blessings and curses. If we suffer loss of property and/or health, or a genetically challenged child is born, does it mean we are being cursed for our sins?

The Jews of Jesus day seemed to reason that way. On the other side we see a "prosperity gospel" reaction to these passages in the world today.

I don't believe we are promised a pain-free life in this world. It's not unusual at all to suffer in this world. To me the bottom line is simply, we need to trust, love and obey the Lord, no matter if everything is going great, or if disease, financial setbacks, death of loved ones who aren't all that old, take place. People who obey God have at times lost everything for doing so. Yes, God sees them through, but the way is tough.

We need to "harken diligently" yes, persistently hungering and thirsting for His righteousness and saving grace, walking with Him in obedience, no matter if this life gives us lands, increase and abundant health, or we need to depend daily on just enough to make it.

And yes, we need to count our blessings, even when big things go wrong, and we feel like crying our eyes out. Look for the blessings, and trust and follow Him in obedience and love! The eternal blessings, when we can be with the Lord forever, are greater than any on that list, greater than anything this world offers!

Interesting to read the given texts in sequence..

John 5:13 believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life,
Matt 10:22 you will be hated by all for My name?s sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved.,
Matt. 10:30 Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword.
Matt 6:28-29 Then they said to Him, ?What shall we do, that we may work the works of God??
Jesus answered, ?This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.?
2 Peter 1:10-11 Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; 11 for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.


Be diligent
the word commands a definitive action and conveys a sense of urgency. Make certain of His calling now. Don't put this off!

On the one hand we may know we have eternal life.
Yet we are urged to be diligent and make certain that our calling is secure.
And the arrangement of texts make it plain that we do not get that affirmation from others, We may well be hated by others.

A believer's "calling" is God drawing him or her to Himself and to salvation.
To make sure of this depends on our response, and that response to be genuine is our growing desire to make our relationship with Christ, as well as God's virtues the important things in our lives, resulting in us growing in our Christian spiritual life.

This week the tithing principle was discussed, and next week the whole lesson is about tithing. It's a subject that can get people quite agitated on both sides (to tithe or not to tithe). Is it an "old covenant" thing, or is it a principle connected to the everlasting covenant?

Scripture tells us God owns everything! He doesn't need our tithe or our offerings.
We aren't doing God a favor by giving Him a tenth of our money.
For one thing it really isn't ours to begin with, it's only in our possession due to His goodness to us.

Giving tithe and offerings is for our benefit. God has asked us to give, for what giving will do for us! We need His blessings. We need God and His salvation! We need to have a relationship of trust with God, and need to share His desire to save people, and feel a part of His work of reaching and saving people. Tithing is for our benefit! It links us in partnership with the God of the universe! It also guards against the evil of greed, and the "love of money" which is the root of all evil.
It's not so much the money, what God desires is our hearts, our commitment to Hi. We need to make Him first in our lives. And when we surrender to Him as our Lord, Savior, and guide and partner in life, we receive wonderful blessings. Those blessings are not payment for services rendered, they are the natural result of being connected with the One Who made us and loves us and has poured out all heaven to save us.

In Mark 16:15 and Matthew 28:19,20 Jesus commissions us to go into all the world, preach the gospel, make disciples, teaching them to observe all things, baptizing them, etc.

God wants us to be involved in the most important work for us as Christians.
We can't all be preachers, evangelists, missionaries to foreign countries, though we can do our part in the place where we are. One of things we can do is help fund this mission from the resources God has given to us.

In our society today, people really don't give that much to fund the commission to take the gospel into all the world.
In Paul's letter to the Corinthians (1 Cor.9:14) it says that those who preach the gospel should live from the gospel.

Even though human stewardship is often faulty, yet it is due to systematic giving of those who want to support the work financially, that the church now has representation and work going on all over the world.

I agree we should not be thinking about it so much as to "what do I get out of giving" be it spiritual development for ourselves, or trusting for financial benefits for ourselves, but rather what can I do to further the commission given to us and bring glory to God.
The tithe is a systematic method God has given to support gospel workers to go out and spread the gospel.

We also need to understand the Israelites had two different tithes.

1. Concerning the first tithe, we read,

?I have given the children of Levi all the tenth in Israel.? Numbers 18:21.

In the Christian era the first 10% is to support the gospel workers.

2. But the second tithe was actually for the worshippers themselves, enabling them to come and worship.

In the Christian era, this additional 10% can be seen as the free will offerings which we give for various projects, assistance to those less fortunate, and a variety of ways to assist in worshipping our God.

?Thou shalt eat before the Lord thy God, in the place which He shall choose to place His name there, the tithe of thy corn, of thy wine, and of thine oil, and the firstlings of thy herds and of thy flocks; that thou mayest learn to fear the Lord thy God always....the stranger and the fatherless and the widow who are with you may come and eat and be satisfied...? "You shall rejoice before the LORD your God, you and you son and daughter, your servants... the stranger, the fatherless and the widow who are among you at the place where the LORD your God chooses to make His name abide. Deuteronomy 14:23,29; Deuteronomy 16:11-14.

How tithing became a doctrine of the Adventist church

James White,in " Life Incidents:" page 300 tells us how it was in the early years (1850s)


Some of those "generous ones" made huge sacrifices, like selling their farms, to finance the work. Once the few generous ones withdrew their support things didn't go well at all. If the ministers were paid at all it was usually in farm produce or second hand clothing. As a result the ministers had to work for their living as well as preach. Since Adventist ministers back then travelled, visiting groups of believers all over the state, they couldn't hold a steady job but had to rely on jobs they could pick up on their journeys. Some farmed in the summer and did their travelling in the cold winter season. The stress caused many of the workers to succumber to ill health.

J.N, Andrews, though still young (in his twenties) was one who was totally exhausted, trying to earn a living, while traveling about preaching, and due to his studying and writing was having serious eye problems. He left the ministry and moved west to Iowa to an Adventist farming community. A year later J.N Loughborough and his wife, also disheartened and discouraged due to the overwork and stark poverty, also left the ministry and moved out to join the others in Waukon, Iowa.
However, Ellen and James White, took a hazardous journey by horse and sleigh in the middle of winter to visit them and encouraged them to come back.

This event challenged the early Advent leaders to seriously look into the scriptures to find God's plan for gospel workers.
James White continues in "Life Incidents page 300-301
This led to the establishment of a new giving plan named Systematic Benevolence.
The two key texts used to support the plan were 1 Corinthians 16:2, which emphasized systematic planning an offering every week, and 2 Corinthians 9:5-7, which emphasized cheerful giving . The 1859 plan did not include tithing. They discovered that in Malachi later.. The first guideline was that ?brothers? should set aside from two to twenty-five cents a week, and ?sisters? from one to ten cents a week. Additionally, those who had property were asked to set aside from one to five cents a week per $100 of value.'

Though the plan met some opposition at first it didn't take long for Systematic Benevolence to be widely accepted by Seventh-day Adventists. In 1868, James White observed, ?This system is generally adopted by our people everywhere, and affords liberal support to our ministers, leaving them free to devote themselves entirely to the work of the ministry.? {Life Sketches 302}

TITHING PERFECTED

, In the mid 1870's the economy was taking a downward swing, while the number of workers and projects in the church was increasing. There was a renewed study on the Systematic Benevolence plan in 1876 when D. M. Canright published two articles in the Review and Herald. dealing with the Malachi's plan of tithing one tenth. Though the idea of a tenth was already suggested previously it was now brought into fuller focus.
"The Bible Plan of supporting the Ministry." "God requires that a tithe, or one-tenth, of all the income of his people shall be given to support his servants in their labors," he wrote. "Notice," he added, "the Lord does not say you should give me a tenth, but he says one-tenth is the Lord?s." Therefore, since the tithe already belonged to God, believers merely returned it to Him.
Others began to seriously study the tithing plan brought forth from the Old Testament. The new plan was implemented beginning the first week of 1879. And just a year later, most members had accepted the systematic plan based on tithing.

In 1932, for the first time tithing was listed in Adventist "Fundamental Beliefs"

.
In 1951 it was added to the baptismal vows as Number 10.


Though it took some time to establish the plan to what it is today, yet the idea of giving systematic support of the movement has been part of the church from early on.

Resources
https://stewardship.adventist.org/page672
https://spectrummagazine.org/articl...adventist-benevolence-historical-context










.

How was the tithes and offerings received back then?

Was it done during the Worship Service, or was it done another way?

Haven't really researched this but here are some clues:

The story of the widow giving her two mites, the Desire of Ages page 614, indicates there were treasure chests in the court of the temple in which people dropped their offerings.


As to the early Adventists, there are several quotes where it seems they gave their offerings, not on Sabbath at worship, but on the first day of the week according to 1 Cor. 16:2
See
Counsels on Stewardship page 81


Testimonies to the Church, Vol. 1, page 714 Appendix


In one biographical story about Maud Sisley, an early Adventist Bible worker, we read a collector would come Sunday morning to collect the tithes and offerings
R&H March 3 1994, p.12




In the 1878 pamphlet on tithing we read:
"

Did they later take up offerings in church? Have to research more.


EGW tells us to bring them to the treasury -- bring them to the storehouse.

You really got my curiosity up on just how they gathered their tithes and offerings in early Adventist history.
When I read the many passages, and the appeals urging members to bring their tithes and offerings to the Lord, to Jesus, to the storehouse, to the treasury etc. it's generally assumed it meant give them to the church in the offering plate. Though now with "Adventist online Giving", it is much more convenient to do this on a day other than the Sabbath.

When one looks into the broader spectrum of Adventist writings, we find that they did take up offerings in Sabbath School and worship services.

As the work enlarged with schools, sanitariums, publishing work, mission work, etc. They found they needed a lot more money. The tithe was to be strictly held for supporting ministers, evangelists and Bible workers, but a lot more was needed to sustain the enlarged work, as well as to build and maintain churches, and the other buildings..
This resulted in a lot of money calls during Sabbath School and the Church service.
Considerable concerns were expressed over this state of affairs. The seemingly unending calls for money was turning away people, and it was disrupting the worship atmosphere, evoking guilt and resentment.
By the year 1900, they realized they needed to have another systematic plan for giving, this time for offerings (or a second tithe)


A.T. Jones wrote


So yes, they did take up offerings during the worship service and during Sabbath School, but the urging people to give offerings every Sabbath for all the various needs was seen as a real problem. To alleviate the problem of all those offering calls, they asked people to pay a "second tithe" to cover all the expenses, for which the first tithe was not to be used.

Today we have "combined church budget" giving, in which the members give a percentage of income to the church, which is then distributed into the different church expense categories. There are still offering appeals from the front as well.

Debt



Proverbs 22:7 The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.

The world is dealing in debt, encouraging debt, making it super easy to be in debt.
Many people are in debt over their heads. The paradox: people think they are free when they have several credit cards to buy whatever their hearts desire. An illusion that they have lots of money to spend. But it's money they don't possess. Standing debts ENSLAVE a person. Your wages are no longer yours, they must go to pay off the credit cards, not just what one spent but huge interests rates added.

Sin is likened to debt in scripture. A debt that we have no means to repay.

Those who think their good deeds will somehow cancel out their sins are deceived. Just like those who think paying $10 a month against a $50,000 debt will somehow cancel out the debt.

The king was dealing with his stewards, who were in charge of administering the affairs of his government. They were responsible to handle money belonging to the state. One of these stewards had hugely mismanaged this responsibility and embezzled or misdirected a huge amount of money. There was no way he could repay or rectify his gross mismanagement. There was also no way he could continue to live in the king's society in that condition. So the verdict was issued, he would lose everything and end up in prison. All hope the future gone.
But the terrified man fell at his feet and begged, saying, "Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.

The king absorbed the loss himself and set the man free. Sin of course can never be erased by paying someone like in a monetary transaction, (to imply we can pay someone for our sins is taking the parable totally too far) but the point is that the king absorbed the losses in himself, just as Jesus
absorbed the consequences of our sin Himself on the cross. There was nothing we could do to get rid of that debt that stands against, but Jesus absorbed the consequences of our sin and died the death that we deserved so we can live the life He deserves.

Col. 2:13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, he has quickened, made us alive, together with Christ, having forgiven you all trespasses;
2:14 Cancelling out the written record with its legal demands that stood against us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;

Recent studies of historical writings show that word "Cheirographon" was used to show a "certificate of indebtedness". So the use of this word in this verse means: he canceled the written record of our debts.

Now it makes more sense...especially when we consider Jesus parable of the ungrateful man. The man who owed the king millions of dollars. The man was summoned to appear before the king to meet the consequences of his indebtedness. Of course he couldn't do anything about it? he was dead in a sense, dead due to his debts! No hope at all to be free from those debts. BUT THE king forgave him all his debts by canceling the written record of those debts which stood against him! The king absorbed the loss in himself, and the servant was set free to live "the new life".

The rest of the story (of the ungrateful servant ) shows we are expected to "live the new life in Christ" as well.

Matt. also likens sin to debts:
6:12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
6:14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:
6:15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Laying Up Treasure in Heaven

"show me what you spend your money on, and I will show you where your heart is, because wherever you put your money, your heart is sure to follow, if it's not there already."


Noah, how did he lay up treasure in heaven?

Noah did not follow the science.
In fact, science predicted a flood could never happen and Noah was just an old deluded man.

Noah gave up everything, his money, his reputation, the respect from others, all in order to build a huge boat on dry ground, preparing for a flood, which science of that time, said couldn't happen.
Noah believed God, in spite of of all the opposing opinions, in spite of suffering ridicule and in spite of all scientific evidence against his project; he believed and put everything into it and moved forward.

The important thing is that, like Noah, we do what God asks of us, even if, as with Noah, it means some radical life changes in how we would like things to happen down here. The big question-- is our greatest aim to make everything, as cushy and fancy here, as possible, or are we preparing for eternal life with Christ.

After the emphases of Laying up our treasure in heaven, we come to passages which seem to be saying the opposite.
It all goes to show we need to use common sense.
-- the lessons deal with practical issues and their relationship to spiritual things.
The Practical
1. Make God first. Give Him His portion in thanks for the strength and wisdom He gave for us to earn money. It's amazing, but it really does seem like He patches all the holes in our pockets, and there is more money there.
2. Live within our means. Credit Cards are not money, they are just promises that we will pay the full amount in the future, with interest. Better to pay for everything right away, and if we don't have the money, just don't buy it. Of course there are emergency exceptions, but make sure it is an emergency, not just a strong desire.

3. Make a budget. Divide up your monthly income, allow a given amount of that income for things needed or wanted.
4, Be debt free. Mortgages are often necessary if one wants a home, but it is wise, when obtaining a mortgage, to make sure the payment on the principle is considerably more than the interest charged each month. Work at getting all smaller debts paid out, then try to pay more each month on the mortgage to whittle that down, and hopefully get rid of it.
5. Save, put aside a little every month, so if you face an emergency you have the means to cover
6. Trust in God. Put everything in His hands. Ask Him to guide and uphold us, as we follow the basic management principles.

The purpose of our jobs should not be only to make money to take care of our living expenses, our jobs should also be opportunities to share our faith with fellow workers and/or customers.

One way to share, is simply to do good, fair and honest, above board, business in every transaction.
There is nothing that turns community folk off faster. than to deal with someone who claims to be a Christian, or an Adventist, who then goes and takes advantage, or engages in questionable business deals with clients.
Our lives are a powerful witness, either for, or against the faith we profess to hold.

The last lesson for the quarter! Rewards of Faithfulness.


36 Bible Verses about Reward


Ephesians 6:8
knowing that whatever good thing each one does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether slave or free.


Matthew 6:4
so that your giving will be in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.

Matthew 10:42
And whoever in the name of a disciple gives to one of these little ones even a cup of cold water to drink, truly I say to you, he shall not lose his reward.?

2 Chronicles 15:7
But you, be strong and do not lose courage, for your work shall be rewarded.?

Revelation 22:12
?Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to what he has done.
?
Proverbs 19:17
One who is gracious to a poor man lends to the Lord,
And He will repay him for his good deed.

Hebrews 10:35
Therefore, do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward..

Matt 25:21
His master replied, ?Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master?s happiness!?

Matthew 6:2
Verse?Concepts
?So when you give to the poor, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be honored by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full.

Romans 2:6
who will render to each person according to his deeds:

Colossians 3:=24
Whatever you do, do it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.

Galatians 6:9
And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap a harvest, if we faint not.

Philippians 3:14
I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Matthew 5:12
Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Matthew 16:27
For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and will then repay every man according to his deeds.

Matthew 6:1
?Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven.

Mark 9:41
For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because of your name as followers of Christ, truly I say to you, he will not lose his reward.

Matthew 19:29
And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or farms for My name?s sake, will receive many times as much, and will inherit eternal life.

Mark 10:29-30
Jesus said, ?Truly I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or farms, for My sake and for the gospel?s sake, but that he will receive a hundred times as much now in the present age, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and farms, along with persecutions; and in the age to come, eternal life.


Luke 6:35
But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men.

Matthew 6:18
so that your fasting will not be noticed by men, but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.

Matthew 6:6
But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.

1 Corinthians 9:25
And every man that strives for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.

1 Corinthians 15:58
Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

2 Corinthians 4:17
For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.

Isaiah 40:10
Behold, the Lord God will come with might,
With His arm ruling for Him.
Behold, His reward is with Him
And His recompense before Him.

Isaiah 62:11
Behold, the Lord has proclaimed to the end of the earth,
Say to the daughter of Zion, ?Lo, your salvation comes;
Behold His reward is with Him, and His recompense before Him.?

Proverbs 11:18
The wicked worketh a deceitful work: but to him that soweth righteousness shall be a sure reward.

Proverbs 25:22
For you will heap burning coals on his head,
And the Lord will reward you.

Proverbs 22:4
The reward of humility and the fear of the Lord
Are riches, honor and life.

Hebrews 11:6
And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.

James 1:12
Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, he shall receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.

2 Peter 1:10-11 Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

2 John 1:8
Watch yourselves, that you do not lose what we have accomplished, but that you may receive a full reward.

Luke 6:23
Be glad in that day and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven. For in the same way their fathers used to treat the prophets.

Revelation 2:10
Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.

Revelation 2:7
To Him who overcomes shall I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God..




Source: https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/Reward