Who likes rewards? I know I do! It’s satisfying to receive a reward, especially after having worked towards a goal or purpose and then accomplishing it.
The right reward can help us to stay motivated and to keep on working even over long and difficult periods where it seems like we are making little progress. It is natural to want quick results but when we don’t see them it is tempting to get disheartened and to give up. That is where the promises in God’s word can help us.
But 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 diligently seek Him. (Hebrews 11:6 NKJV)
The book of Hebrews has a lot to say about faith. And Hebrews 11:6 begins by letting us know that we must come to God in faith. As we strive to do God’s work we must do it through our faith in Him and His power. We can be sustained in our efforts only by placing our faith and trust in our Heavenly Father who is always there for us.
Notice also the last part of Hebrews 11:6. Not only must we have faith to please God but we must also trust that God rewards those who diligently seek Him. And what is diligence?
diligence: constant and earnest effort to accomplish what is undertaken, careful and persistent work or effort, steadfast application
Diligence is not giving up. Diligence is keeping on, little by little, day by day. Diligence stays the course even when times are tough and nothing seems to be going right.
I find it encouraging that God will reward my consistent and persistent efforts. Sometimes I feel like I might be close to the end of my rope physically and mentally and all I have left is my desire not to give up. And instead of being discouraged by my weakness and lack God wants me to understand that he is sufficient at all times if I will just continue to rely on Him.
The Lord says to us “don’t give up, I have what you need. Keep coming to me with your weakness and failings and I will be your strength and your success”. He wants us to stick close to Him, even when we can’t understand what’s happening or where we might be going.
What He doesn’t want us to do is to give in to our discouragement. It’s very tempting to run and hide or even to get mad at God and stop talking to Him when things aren’t going well. But if we remain diligent then God tells us that we will be rewarded.
And what are the rewards that God offers us? Ultimately, being with him in a place called heaven, which will be beyond anything that we can imagine. But here on this earth He offers us peace in the midst of trials, grace that is greater than any of our failings and His steadfast love that is strong enough to see us through. God’s presence is real and powerful and true fellowship with Him is one of the sweetest things that we can experience in this life. All of this He offers to us.
Will we remain diligent and faithful and experience all that God has for us? I pray that we would.
Great topic Matthew. I love the book of Hebrews. Diligence seems to be a recurring theme. We often see the word persevere. It is God who does the ultimate work but we have to be willing press in and stay with it when our circumstances are yelling at us to give up. Our diligence is often a step of faith.
Jon I really like your thought on diligence often being a step of faith. How fantastic!
Matthew this is a timely post and I really am glad I saw this today. The devil is beating me up lately over prayer. I was was doing so good (probably more in my eyes than God’s) and then boom all of a sudden it felt like the biggest chore of my life. It scared me I thought something was wrong with me. How could I be chomping at the bits to pray one minute and then dragging my feet the next. Thank you for the encouragement to not give up!
I’m hid with Christ!
Shawn
Amen, Shawn! I am so glad that you were encouraged in your walk. May God continue to draw you closer through prayer!