A Heart Of Integrity

Ps 78 vs 70 Why did God choose David, His servant and took him out of the sheepfolds .. to shepherd Jacob, His people & Israel, His inheritance? He had a heart after the Lord and ... like vs 72, He shepherded them according to the integrity of his heart, and guided them with his skillful hands?

Many times we cannot understand the way the Lord selects us. But I would like to think that while we are willing and are able to serve the Lord while we can, we ought to be faithful and excel in all that God has purposed for us in this lifetime.

Was reading an article and it is good food for thought ... strangely, I was kept awake a long time last night and was conversing with the Lord over an obedience-based decision. First draft only ... more to go .... sigh.

There are two types of people in the world. There are those whose activities are designed to generate a reward in this lifetime. And there are those who live to generate a reward when they meet our Lord in Heaven.

Not every Christian models the latter. How does one judge whether they are living for the future reward versus the earthly reward? There are several key indicators.

Future reward people tend to be givers. They make their time and resources available to be channeled for Kingdom purposes. They realize their sowing will ultimately be rewarded at the Judgment Seat of Christ where what they have done on earth will be judged and rewarded by God (2 Corinthians 5:10).

Future reward people live a life based upon obedience-based decisions. They don't make decisions based on their perceived outcome. They realize a decision based on obedience alone may not result in an immediate outcome. Jesus was obedient to the cross, but the immediate outcome was His own death on the cross.

Future reward situations show up in daily life in a number of ways. Perhaps a person has wronged you and God calls you to forgive and even bless that person without expectation of their response. Perhaps God calls you to sow money into a ministry or another person's life without expectation of return from them. Perhaps you are called to serve another person without expectation of any earthly reward. The situations we might encounter are unlimited.

Are you living a life based on a future reward, or short term reward? Today, evaluate how you make decisions and how you allocate resources. This will reveal whether you are a future reward Christian.