Sharing the Reward

Matthew 10:40-42

New International Version (NIV)

⁴⁰ “Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. ⁴¹ Whoever welcomes a prophet as a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and whoever welcomes a righteous person as a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward. ⁴² And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward.”
(http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=matthew%2010:%2040%20-42&version=NIV)

As I read this passage my thoughts were on the ones that were to receive the message from the prophet, righteous man and the disciples.  If only they would receive, if only they would listen.  As I thought about this I began to remember that Jesus was not only talking to those who were to receive, He was talking to His disciples.  We have read in previous verses that He has told them about the persecution that they will endure.  He has told them that not everyone will receive them and now He is telling them that there will be those who will receive them, who will support them, and that these people are just as important in the Kingdom of God as they are. 

When Jesus speaks of welcoming the disciples, I believe He is talking about those who actually listen to and heed the words that the disciples have spoken.  I struggle with sometimes not being heard.  I have a relationship with Jesus Christ that I want others to hear but I not only want them to hear, I want them to heed the call to salvation.  I do not want them to hear me but I want them to hear the Father who gave me the opportunity to hear and to heed His call.  The problem I find most difficult to remedy is when people don’t want to listen.  Why do people not listen?  Maybe it is because they believe they are right, their ideas are better, they have a better solution or they just don’t plainly choose not to believe.  At that point we cannot be discouraged because we have done our part by speaking the truth and we must move on.  Just as those who welcome you will be welcomed by the Father, those who refuse to welcome you will not be welcomed by the Father.

Prophet, now that is a huge word.  Anyone who claims to be a prophet today may be looked upon as someone who thinks they know it all.  They may be looked upon in a negative light by those they are speaking to.  I would imagine that this was no different in Jesus time or in Old Testament times.  Many times prophets were not received well.  Then there is the prophet Jonah who did not want to be received well and pouted when people of Ninevah repented.  Why do you think He says that if a prophet is received the one receiving will be given a prophet’s reward?  Certainly Jonah did not want this for the evil people of Ninevah.  I believe that if people actually receive a prophet they too will proclaim the word of God.  They too, will share with others thus prophesying the Word of God.  If you are a prophet or have recognized a prophet and received him/her as a prophet what a great reward awaits you.

What does it mean to be a righteous man?  I have heard righteous described as “right-living”.  There are many people in this world who live the right way by the world’s standards.  They give to charity, they attend church on a regular basis, or they spend time with their family.  They treat others with respect and if they are sick they go to visit them.  They aren’t drunkards, swindlers, or unfaithful to their spouse.  They don’t say a bad thing about anyone.  They are truly good people.  Right-living in God’s eyes would mean that they live a life centered around Christ.  They are not perfect people but people who put Christ first in their lives.  They give up themselves and their desires to become what Christ would have them become.  A righteous man may be questioned regarding their motives, they may be mocked, ridiculed, and may be a lousy business man because they care more about others than they do about money.  Get the picture?  If you are a righteous person you don’t strive to make people see how great you are but how great your Father in Heaven is.  If you receive a person like this, there is no doubt that you too will become a righteous person and thus receive a righteous man’s reward.  If you care about others you will give that cup of cold water to the disciple of Jesus that comes knocking on your door. 

As you seek the Lord, He will give you prophets and righteous people so that you may welcome them and give them some cold water to drink.  But, will you welcome them and heed their words?

If you are a prophet or a righteous person, are you willing to share your reward?  I trust you won’t have to learn the lesson of Jonah but will freely share what has been freely given to you.

Seeking Him with all my heart,

Sheila