Coming to Grips with Accountability
Do you understand one day you must face the judgment seat of Christ?
The issue on that day will not be salvation. Rather, believers at the Judgment Seat of Christ must give account for the works done in the body. In a word, believers must face their record as a personal steward before the Lord.
Two things come to mind immediately. First, if we neglect actual service for Christ there will be very little reward. The Lord cannot reward his people for opportunities neglected.
Second, the works offered to the Lord will be examined to determine the motive with which they were performed. Offering service with a wrong motive will not be rewarded.
Here are several passages of Scripture to study closely related to the Judgment Seat of Christ: 2 Cor. 5:9-10; 1 Cor. 3:13-15; Matthew 25:21; Luke 12:41-48; 1 Cor. 4:2.
It is obvious from these passages every believer must give account of himself to Christ. It is said we must appear before the judgment seat of Christ to receive a reward for the things done in the body.
It is possible to stand there and see various works burn before our eyes as the Lord reveals them for what they really are. Please understand the Lord places a premium upon the attitude of heart with which we do things. Our motive must be pure otherwise we will suffer loss at the judgment seat of Christ.
So, several truths come into focus as we meditate on these verses. First, believers are fully accountable to God.
Does this truth grip your heart appropriately? You must appear before Christ. Is this nothing to you? Is there no motivation to please the Savior on your part? Are you contented to drift along as a believer with little or no work for Christ?
And when you serve and give is it with a pure motive? Is it your desire to work and give out of pure love for the Savior?
You see, whatever is done to be seen of men or with any other motive other than love for Christ cannot be rewarded. The reward for that work will be lost!
Notice also from our reading that the Lord places a strong emphasis upon faithfulness. The Lord expects his redeemed to serve faithfully where he places them.
Hudson Taylor a well-known Christian missionary now in heaven once said: “Small things are small things, but faithfulness with a small thing is a big thing.” Amen!
Are you motivated to be faithful to Christ? Do you faithfully serve and give with a pure heart where God has placed you? If so, you are going to receive reward when you stand before Christ.
On the other hand, many believers will be saved by the skin of their teeth. Can you imagine standing before your Lord with absolutely no reward? How sad that will be. How disappointed the Lord Jesus will be with such believers. Saved? Yes. Embarrassed? Yes again!
Hear me carefully: your stewardship matters and, in some way, every one of us will live eternally in light of what we did with the opportunities the Lord gave us.
Considering the eternal consequences of neglecting faithful, loving service as the Lord’s stewards every believer should be motivated to please Christ.
Do you understand one day you must face the judgment seat of Christ?
The issue on that day will not be salvation. Rather, believers at the Judgment Seat of Christ must give account for the works done in the body. In a word, believers must face their record as a personal steward before the Lord.
Two things come to mind immediately. First, if we neglect actual service for Christ there will be very little reward. The Lord cannot reward his people for opportunities neglected.
Second, the works offered to the Lord will be examined to determine the motive with which they were performed. Offering service with a wrong motive will not be rewarded.
Here are several passages of Scripture to study closely related to the Judgment Seat of Christ: 2 Cor. 5:9-10; 1 Cor. 3:13-15; Matthew 25:21; Luke 12:41-48; 1 Cor. 4:2.
It is obvious from these passages every believer must give account of himself to Christ. It is said we must appear before the judgment seat of Christ to receive a reward for the things done in the body.
It is possible to stand there and see various works burn before our eyes as the Lord reveals them for what they really are. Please understand the Lord places a premium upon the attitude of heart with which we do things. Our motive must be pure otherwise we will suffer loss at the judgment seat of Christ.
So, several truths come into focus as we meditate on these verses. First, believers are fully accountable to God.
Does this truth grip your heart appropriately? You must appear before Christ. Is this nothing to you? Is there no motivation to please the Savior on your part? Are you contented to drift along as a believer with little or no work for Christ?
And when you serve and give is it with a pure motive? Is it your desire to work and give out of pure love for the Savior?
You see, whatever is done to be seen of men or with any other motive other than love for Christ cannot be rewarded. The reward for that work will be lost!
Notice also from our reading that the Lord places a strong emphasis upon faithfulness. The Lord expects his redeemed to serve faithfully where he places them.
Hudson Taylor a well-known Christian missionary now in heaven once said: “Small things are small things, but faithfulness with a small thing is a big thing.” Amen!
Are you motivated to be faithful to Christ? Do you faithfully serve and give with a pure heart where God has placed you? If so, you are going to receive reward when you stand before Christ.
On the other hand, many believers will be saved by the skin of their teeth. Can you imagine standing before your Lord with absolutely no reward? How sad that will be. How disappointed the Lord Jesus will be with such believers. Saved? Yes. Embarrassed? Yes again!
Hear me carefully: your stewardship matters and, in some way, every one of us will live eternally in light of what we did with the opportunities the Lord gave us.
Considering the eternal consequences of neglecting faithful, loving service as the Lord’s stewards every believer should be motivated to please Christ.
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