Gifts And Rewards

When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. [Matthew 6:16-18]

Do motives really matter?

Does it matter why you do the right thing, as long as you do it?

Today is Good Friday, the day Jesus walked a horrible path to a tortuous fate He didn’t deserve. Why did He do it?

His death was God’s will, and Jesus obeyed His Father. But why? Did He expect something in return? Was there some sort of reward waiting? Does it matter?

In his wonderful book The Prodigal God, Timothy Keller relates a modern-day parable.

Once upon a time there was a gardener who grew an enormous carrot. So he took it to his king and said, “My lord, this is the greatest carrot I’ve ever grown or ever will grow. I’d like to present it to you as a token of my love and respect for you.”

A carrot? Seriously? The guy’s a king! He has everything he could possibly want or need. Can’t you just picture this simple guy walking timidly into the great hall, dirt on his shoes, holes in his jeans, carrying a huge carrot?

I imagine the king’s entourage snickering. Who does this ill-bred peasant think he is to even approach royalty, especially with such a stupid gift? They couldn’t wait to see how the king would humiliate this poor sap.

The king was touched and discerned the man’s heart. As he turned to go the king said, “Wait! You are clearly a good steward of the earth. I own a plot of land right next to yours. I want to give it to you freely as a gift so you can garden it all.”

The gardener was amazed and delighted and returned home rejoicing.

Hmmm. That’s not what they expected. This ignorant fool wanders in here with some lucky freak of nature and leaves with a prime parcel of land.

What kind of game was this grubby farmer running? Did he know something about the king’s secret love of orange vegetables? They were the insiders—why didn’t they know about this?

A nobleman at the king’s court heard all this and thought, “If that is what you get for a carrot, what if you give the king something better?”

The next day the nobleman appeared before the king leading a handsome black stallion. He bowed low and said, “My lord, I breed horses. This is the greatest horse I’ve ever bred or ever will. I’d like to present it to you as a token of my love and respect for you.”

A magnificent black stallion—now THAT’S a gift worthy of a king. The court regulars probably wondered Why didn’t I think of that? Jealousy, envy—this will probably land him a great seat at the next royal banquet or a date with the princess.

The king discerned his heart, said thank you, took the horse, and dismissed him. The nobleman was perplexed.

So the king said, “The gardener was giving me the carrot, but you were giving yourself the horse.”

Both men offered a sacrificial gift. One was practically worthless, the other probably quite valuable. And it didn’t matter, because the king likely had all the horses and vegetables he wanted.

They weren’t rewarded for the value of the gift, but rather for the heart behind it.

How often do I approach God as a cosmic vending machine? I scramble about searching for the correct coin to drop in the slot so I’ll get what I want, then lamenting life’s unfairness when I don’t receive the expected result.

How often do I bargain with Jesus, pretending that I have something He needs, offering to trade it for the prize behind door #3?

Today’s the day to gaze at the cross and ponder the enormous sacrificial gift it represents. It’s a day to remember not only the value of the gift but the servant heart behind it.

It’s a day to bring my best—not because I’m supposed to or because I’ll be rewarded. I’ve already been rewarded. Today’s the day to respond out of love.

HAPPY EASTER!

And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. [Matthew 6:5]