“Great is your reward in Heaven.” Luke 6:23 NIV
“Every wrong will not be righted nor every right thing rewarded, until eternity.”
My thoughts and comments today are about “keeping score.”
People have an amazing capacity for keeping score; usually that involves keeping emotional records of anything someone else hasn’t done and every right thing that you have. A child has the inherent need for affirmation and assurance, anticipating reward for the least bit of good behavior, and that seems never outgrown. Every child will ask, “Did I do good?” Whatever your age, you yearn for praise when you have done well and assume discipline when you have not, and feel hurt when another seems treated better than you.
You are better when you let God keep score, and so is everyone else probably. Here’s the reality: every good deed will not always be noticed, applauded, or rewarded at the moment, but neither will it be forgotten. “God is not unjust to forget your good works and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints.” Hebrews 6:10 NKJV. Trust God with that.
It is also true that every bad thing that someone else does is rarely punished while you watch or when you want, but neither is it forgotten. Any satisfaction at others’ suffering is unhealthy and unholy, forgetful of the grace you’re shown. David painfully struggled with this. Read Psalm 73: 2-12 NKJV. You have to be content to leave that to God. The scales of right and reward are not properly nor permanently balanced in this lifetime. Here is David’s conclusion: “When I thought how to understand this, it was too painful for me – until I went into the sanctuary of God; then I understood their end.” Psalm 73:16-17 NKJV. In God’s presence, life makes sense.
Your righteous living now has everything to do with your rewards then. “The law of the LORD is perfect . . The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy . . The precepts of the LORD are right . . The commands of the LORD are radiant . . The fear of the LORD is pure . . The ordinances of the LORD are altogether righteous. By them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.” Psalm 19:7-11 NIV.
Ultimately, righting the scales of when you were right and where everyone else is wrong will seem irrelevant and unworthy of the work and worry you gave to it. Besides, you can’t handle that job; when you try to do so, you are not wise enough or kind enough. When you trust God to keep it all straight, you feel less compulsion to do so. You are in good hands in God’s hands. “I give them eternal life . . no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand . . Your life is hidden with Christ in God . . Knowing that you have a better and an enduring possession for yourselves in heaven, therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward.” John 10:28-30/Colossians 3:2-4 /Hebrews 10:34-35 NKJV.
Understanding the principle of righteous judgment and reward is crucial to living well and trusting God’s fairness. “Will not the Judge of all the earth do right?” Genesis 18:25 NIV. The correct answer is: of course He will! Jesus taught a most unnatural response to your experience of offense and rejection, “Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in Heaven.” Luke 6:22-23 NIV. Your life is best lived with Heaven in view. Revelation 22:12-14 NKJV. This side of Heaven, every wrong will not be righted nor every right thing rewarded. “Then men will say, ‘Surely the righteous still are rewarded; surely there is a God who judges the earth.’” Psalm 58:11 NIV. God alone can and will do that righteously.
My prayer for you today is that you trust God with the just and final reckoning.