“God will reward you for this!” cried my neighbor as I helped him push his car down the street, while secretly wondering if I’d need a physiotherapist to work on my back the next day.

It’s a common phrase, isn’t it? Hold the lift for someone, and you’ll hear it. Drop a coin in a beggar’s bowl, and some kind soul will chime in with, “God will bless you!” You’d think we’re all walking around with invisible bank ledgers, tallying up karma points like a spiritual loyalty program!

But this morning I read Jesus’ words in Luke 17:7-10, and oh, what a wake-up call!

Jesus tells His disciples a parable about a servant. After a long day’s work, the master doesn’t thank the servant for simply doing his job. No applause, no bonus, not even a congratulatory “Good effort, Bob!” The servant is simply doing what was expected of him.

Now that’s a bit unsettling, isn’t it? Imagine working tirelessly to feed the poor, support your neighbors, and volunteer at church only to hear, “Well, that’s just your duty!” Feels a bit deflating, doesn’t it? Especially living in a country where everybody works towards good karma.

But here’s the point: Jesus wasn’t trying to demotivate us; He was reminding us that true Christian service isn’t about earning divine brownie points. It’s about love. Pure, no-strings-attached love.

But oh, how we love balancing those imaginary scales! “I helped a blind man cross the street today, so surely God will ensure my business deal goes through!” Or, “I shared my lunch with that colleague yesterday, so I expect a promotion by next week!”

And then disaster strikes. We fall ill, face a job loss, or struggle with family problems.

Instantly, someone whispers, “Ah, must be bad karma! Must’ve done something wrong!” Suddenly, those scales we’ve been meticulously balancing tip over like a wobbly table.

That’s when we forget something crucial: God’s reward isn’t some earthly jackpot. His true gift is the strength He provides to face whatever comes our way — strength to endure hardship, grace to forgive, courage to keep going.

I remember visiting an elderly friend battling cancer. I asked her how she managed to stay so cheerful despite the pain. With a smile, she said, “I stopped wondering if I deserve this. I just know God’s giving me strength to face it.”

And that’s the secret, isn’t it? Faith isn’t about bargaining with God. It’s about trusting Him no matter what — sunshine or storm. So, the next time you hear someone say, “God will reward you,” smile and say, “He already has! He’s given me the strength to keep going!”

Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to pop over to my neighbor’s place. He’s got another car to push, and I’ve got the physiotherapist’s number ready, just in case..!

————————————————–

Would love to hear from you

in the COMMENTS section below…and IF YOU WANT TO RECEIVE BOB’S BANTER EVERYDAY, PLEASE SEND YOUR NAME AND WHATSAPP PHONE NO TO [email protected]
————————————————–

CONTACT  https://bobsbanter.com/courses-etc-offered-by-robert-clements/

if you need any of what Robert Clements offers.

————————————————–

ENROLL FOR THE WRITER’s COURSE…
…Get trained to write powerfully by the author, whose article you just read! Don’t wait! Send a thumbs up for details to 9892572883 and let Robert Clements train you in his easy and comfortable way Let the power of WORDS spoken and written effectively and forcefully, change your life! Join the Writer’s and Speaker’s Course, TODAY! Send a thumbs-up to 9892572883 now!