“Look to yourselves, that we do not lose those things we worked for, but that we may receive a full reward.”

but that we may receive a full reward

The “lady” and her children will lose their reward for faithful missionary service if they fall for the false teachers.  If they allow false teachers to proselytize their community of believers, they will lose those for whom they labor. 

“Reward” is the term for a day laborer’s wage.  People who work for a living should receive due to wages for their labor. 

Mt 5:12, “Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

1 Co 3:8, “Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor.”

Generally, God rewards hospitality (Mt 10:41; 25:40) but not in this case.  If a Christian does not discriminate between truth and error, she will lose her reward.  This loss of reward would only be partial.  She would still receive some reward (1 Co 3:11-15). 

Co. 2:18-19,  ¹⁸ “Let no one cheat you of your reward, taking delight in false humility and worship of angels, intruding into those things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, ¹⁹ and not holding fast to the Head, from whom all the body, nourished and knit together by joints and ligaments, grows with the increase that is from God.”

Co 3:23-25,  ²³ “And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, ²⁴ knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ. ²⁵ But he who does wrong will be repaid for what he has done, and there is no partiality.”

PRINCIPLE: 

Christians should aim for a “full reward” in heaven. 

APPLICATION: 

Even if Christians lose some reward, they will not lose all reward.  God does not forget our labor of love (He 6:10).  If there is anything coming to us, we should get it all.  We should get a “full reward.” 

It is quite clear that some will not receive a full reward.  Work and effort for Christ can be lost.  Do not let anyone cheat you out of your reward.  Do not let some fast-talking, religious salesman cheat you out of your reward. 

Mt 5:11-12,  ¹¹ “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. ¹² “Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

Mt 6:6, “But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.”

Mt 6:16-18,  ¹⁶ “Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. ¹⁷ “But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, ¹⁸ “so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.”

Ro 14:12, “So then each of us shall give account of himself to God.”

1 Co 3:8-15,  ⁸ “Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor. ⁹ For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building. ¹⁰ According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. ¹¹ For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. ¹² Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, ¹³ each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. ¹⁴ If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. ¹⁵ If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.”

1 Co 4:5, “Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each one’s praise will come from God.”

2 Co 5:10, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.”

Re 22:12-13, ¹² “And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work. ¹³ “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last.”

We have a short time down here to be effective; then God will usher us into His presence.  Will there be any crown on our head there?  Will there be any reward, any fruit?  Will you have little to present to the Master?  You will stand there alone.  You will be accountable for the life that God gave you.  He will search your hearts and give a reward for what is done for His glory. 

God always rewards justly.  He will not give us an A when we deserve a B.  Some of us deserve a D.  If so, God will not give us a C.  Rewards are not given; they are deserved.  God always rewards us according to absolute fairness.