A Loser’s Reward
Achievement

Scripture Reading: 2 Corinthians 4:13-18

Key Verse: 2 Corinthians 4:17

For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.

Join me in putting the word “achievement” in our vocabulary more often!  Yes, achieving, for Christ followers, must mean much more than worldly achievements.  Achieving for us means eternal rewards.  The TV show, The Biggest Loser, has a prize at the end of the show for whoever loses the most weight.  This person receives $250,000.  This payday is the reward for all the hard work and self-denial they have put themselves through in order to be the person that lost the most!  It wasn’t an easy journey, but for them it was worth all the effort when they receive that check for $250,000.

            Christ followers are paying a heavy price for being faithful to the Lord.  They do a lot of self-control and self-denial.  Our flesh fights our obedience to Christ!  The devil fights our obedience to Christ!  Sometimes it feels like it would be so much easier to just cave in and do what we want, but our faith reminds us that there is coming a day; it’s our payday!

            The apostle reminds us that our payday will make all our faithfulness well worth it.  In fact, he writes that our “light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all” (vs. 17).  Let’s not give up or fall short.  It will be worth it all!

Father, I give myself to the task of faithful obedience and service to your kingdom.  I look forward to payday!  In Jesus’ name, amen.