Insurance companies love to give discounts. However, many times there is a condition. If we want the discount, we must remain a customer. The longer we’re with them, the deeper our discount.
School districts do something similar, too, calling it longevity pay. Every additional five years the employee stays with the district, an extra bonus is added to his or her yearly salary. It can amount to thousands over the course of a career.
What is our “faithful” bonus in God? What does he offer us when we follow through time after time, never failing him, and always presenting our Christian witness before the world?
2 Samuel 19:31-39 tells the story of Barzillai the Gileadite. In this passage, he’s already an old man. He is also very wealthy. King David returns triumphant after an aborted coup of the kingdom, and Barzillai provides for the king and his men during their stay at Mahanaim. In reward, David offers Barzillai more wealth and a high position in Jerusalem.
Barzillai declines, telling David he has all he needs, and he sends his son, instead.
Now we move forward some years. David is aged, and his time has come. In 1 Kings 2:7, he gives this instruction to his successor Solomon:
“But deal loyally with the sons of Barzillai the Gileadite, and let them be among those who eat at your table, for with such loyalty they met me when I fled from Absalom your brother.”
Barzillai had been faithful to provide for David, and he and his descendants were honored in perpetuity by the King.
In Luke 23:42-43, the man hanging at Jesus’ side asked the Christ to remember him. Jesus’ reply:
“Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”
The criminal found faith in Jesus. For this, he received his reward.
Matthew 10:41 tells us:
“The one who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet's reward…”
Revelation 22:12 says:
“Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my [reward] with me, to repay each one for what he has done.”
How does the Father God tally up our reward? Does he check off the years of our faithful service? Or does he count the souls we’ve won for him?
We find our answer in the parable of the laborers in the vineyard. Matthew 20:16 says:
“So the last will be first, and the first last.”
It is our decision to be faithful unto him that determines our reward. If we are faithful, we will be honored by God, for his Word tells us so.
God desires our heart, and when we offer it to him, he honors us before all men.
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