How can we apply the principle of divine reward from Ezekiel 29:18 today? Setting the Scene • Ezekiel 29:18: “Son of man, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon caused his army to serve laboriously against Tyre; every head was made bald and every shoulder rubbed bare. Yet neither he nor his army received wages for the labor he expended against Tyre.” • The soldiers invested exhausting effort without pay. God noticed their unrewarded labor and, in vv. 19-20, promised Egypt as their compensation. • The principle: God sees every task done under His providence and ensures appropriate reward, even if it arrives in an unexpected way or at a later time. Spotlighting the Principle • God keeps perfect accounts. Nothing offered in labor, obedience, or sacrifice slips past His attention (Hebrews 6:10). • Reward may be delayed, redirected, or delivered in forms we did not anticipate, yet it is never forgotten (Galatians 6:9). • Divine reward aligns with God’s purposes, not merely our preferences (Isaiah 55:8-9). Tracing the Theme Through Scripture • Genesis 15:1 – “I am your shield and your exceedingly great reward.” God Himself is the ultimate portion. • Ruth 2:12 – Boaz blesses Ruth: “May the LORD repay your work… a full reward be given you by the LORD.” • Matthew 6:3-4 – Secret giving will be rewarded openly by the Father. • 1 Corinthians 15:58 – “Your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” • Colossians 3:23-24 – “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart… knowing that you will receive the reward of an inheritance from the Lord.” Living It Out Personally • Workplace integrity – Work diligently even when recognition is scarce. – Trust God to translate unseen faithfulness into His chosen form of reward. • Ministry and volunteer service – Pour yourself into Sunday-school lessons, soundboard duty, hospitality, or hidden intercession knowing God records every moment. • Family responsibilities – Diaper changes, late-night conversations, caring for aging parents all register in heaven’s ledger (Ephesians 6:8). • Financial stewardship – Give generously without bargaining for immediate return; God may repay through providential protection, opportunities, or eternal treasure (Luke 6:38). • Persevering under injustice – When mistreated, resist bitterness. Commit your case to “Him who judges justly” (1 Peter 2:23). Living It Out in Church Life • Celebrate unseen servants—custodians, tech teams, nursery workers—to mirror God’s own appreciation. • Disciple new believers in the habit of working “for the Lord, not for men,” dismantling a consumer mindset. • Structure church budgets and service schedules to reflect confidence that God rewards sacrifice, freeing the body from anxiety over immediate results. Guardrails and Cautions • Avoid a transactional attitude—service is worship, not a paycheck. • Recognize that earthly reward is not guaranteed; some recompense is reserved for the age to come (Luke 14:14). • Beware of comparing rewards. Peter’s question in John 21:21-22 reminds us to focus on following Christ, not on how He deals with others. Encouragement to Persevere • The God who remembered Nebuchadnezzar’s army remembers you. • Every unseen act is seed sown; in God’s timing the harvest appears (Psalm 126:5-6). • Fix your eyes on “the crown of righteousness” the Lord will award “to all who have loved His appearing” (2 Timothy 4:8). |
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