A Helper's Reward

Every Sunday, my pastor and his wife drive 1 1/2 hours to serve at a small church, that is not financially independent and is not able to support a pastor of its own. Usually it is the pastor's wife, who drives for 3 hours. The other day, as I was talking with her, she half-jokingly said, "When I go to heaven, I will be a driver there, too." As I listened to her half-joke, I pondered whether she will be rewarded as a driver, --- or more.

I think the biblical answer is that she will be rewarded the same as her husband.

In speaking of rewards to be given to someone who receives a prophet, Jesus said, "Anyone who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet's reward, and anyone who receives a righteous man because he is a righteous man will receive a righteous man's reward." (Matthew 10:41) When we get to heaven, it is not just those who served as prophets or famous preachers who will receive accolades and rewards. Anyone who receives and serves them because they are men and women of God will also receive the same rewards. What an encouragement to all those who stay behind in their home country and financially and prayerfully support those who are at the missionary front! This is the reward system that the Master has decided and there is no argument about it. This is fair to all involved, including the prophets and their supporters, because the Master has the right to do what He wants with His property and because any reward that He gives out is out of His generosity (Matthew 20:15).

The story of David and his men in I Samuel 30 can be understood in the same vein. The story occurred while they were living in the land of the Philistines, to escape the pursuit of King Saul. When David and his men returned from the war front to their hometown of Ziglak, they found that the town had been raided by the Amalekites and their wives had been taken captive. They decided to pursue the Amalekites, but on the way at the Besor Ravine, two hundred men were too exhausted to contiue and stayed behind, while the remaining 400 men continued the pursuit. David and the 400 ended up not only recovering everyone and everything, but also plundering the Amalekites. Upon their return, there arose a dispute as to whether the 200 who stayed behind should take part in the plunder. Although the "evil men and troublemakers" among David's followers said that the 200 should have no part in the plunder, David's response was different. He said, "No, my brothers, you must not do that with what the LORD has given us. He has protected us and handed over to us the forces that came against us. Who will listen to what you say? The share of the man who stayed with the supplies is to be the same as that of him who went down to the battle. All will share alike." (I Samuel 30:23-24). This became a statute and ordinance for Israel from that day on. Note what David acknowledges. The plunder is not what they earned, but is what the Lord has given to them. The Lord has given generously and all who are in the Lord's family have a share in the inheritance.

In Genesis, we read that God created woman to be a helper for her husband (Genesis 2:18). Though the man of the house may go out to toil and earn an income for the family, the woman of the house who stays behind and maintains the house is doing a work that is just as worthy. One cannot do what he or she is doing without the other doing her or his part. The helper's work is as important as that of the one being helped.

Likewise in the church, all the belivers are parts of the same body of Christ (I Corinthians 12:14-27). Some may function like an eye, some may function like an ear, some like a mouth, some like an arm, and some like a foot. No part is dispensable; if any is missing, the body is no longer whole. Every part doing its portion for the sake of Christ will be receiving its reward in heaven. While the work of a minister may be honorable, if I serve him because he is a minister of God, then I would also get the minister's reward in heaven. Wow, what an amazing reward system that our Father has for us!

Whatever task the Lord assigns me to do in the church, my job is to be faithful to the task. "Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful." (I Corinthians 4:2). When the Lord returns to hold me accountable, what He will look for will be whether I have been a good and faithful servant (Matthew 25:14-30), rather than how much I have accomplished. In the end, what I accomplish or do matters little to the Lord; what He wants to see is whether I have loved, honored and respected Him to obey Him faithfully. Even if I accomplish little, if I am faithful, I will be rewarded as a good and faithful servant. If I am faithful as a servant and a supporter of the important task that the minister carries out, I will be rewarded like the faithful minister. No sense in trying to promote myself to become a deacon, an elder, or a minister for my personal glory and gain; rather in whatever position the Lord has put me in, I should strive to be faithful and serve those who have been placed in positions of leadership and seeming importance.

Lord, let me be a good helper to your minister, because he is your minister. Let me be a good and faithful servant in all that You have assigned me to. In Jesus' name. Amen.