King Jesus Provides Meaningful Work and Reward Programs

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“Idle hands are the devil’s workshop.”

Proverbs 16:27, TLB

 

Most people in today’s workforce look forward to retirement. Retirement is a time to slow down and enjoy time with the grandkids and maybe travel a little more. It’s time to enjoy some extra leisure time and maybe sleep in a little more as well. While there is nothing wrong with any of these things, there is something wrong with being idle. As the Proverbs says. .. “Idle hands are the devil’s workshop.” (16:27, TLB)

WORK IN THE MILLENNIAL KINGDOM 

God designed us to work. We are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works  (Ephesians 2:10). Work is not a result of sin as some people think. For when God made Adam before sin entered the world, the Bible tells us that he put him in the Garden to work it. (Genesis 2:15)

Did you know that when Jesus returns to set up His Millennial Kingdom he will call upon us to rule and reign with him? As believers will be given special assignments and responsibilities.  Consider one of Jesus' parables… In Matthew 25 Jesus taught the idea that our roles and responsibilities in the millennial kingdom are directly determined by how faithful we are here on earth. In saying…. “You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much.” (25:23)

Consider what one author noted about our future work in saying…

Service is a reward, not a punishment. The idea is foreign to people who dislike their work and only put up with it until retirement. We think that faithful work should be rewarded with a vacation for the rest of our lives. But God offers us something very different: more work, more responsibilities, increased opportunities, along with greater abilities, resources, wisdom, and empowerment.  We will have sharp minds, strong bodies, clear purpose, and unabated joy. [1] 

In this new kingdom, there will be much work to do. It will be work that doesn’t exhaust us, leaving us feeling anxious or empty. But we will feel satisfied and full of life. We will have the feeling of completing a good day's work!  All the projects will perfectly come together, teams will work in unison, goals will be set, and goals will be met! 

There will be many different kinds of jobs in God’s coming Kingdom. Some will govern  (Luke 19:11-26 ) others will judge. (I Corinthians 6:2-3, Daniel 7:18, 22,27) Many will rule and reign with him for a thousand years (Revelation 20:4,6) It’s been said, our time here on earth is training time for a future reigning time!  All of us in some form or fashion will be working for our King Jesus. We will be building a better world. It will be a nearly perfect planet!

REWARDS IN THE COMING KINGDOM

It will be an honor and privilege to have these opportunities.  We will all long to hear the words… ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. As our Lord will say… “You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.” (Matthew 25:23) Our King Jesus invites all those who have served him, to receive the inheritance that he has prepared for them.  (Matthew 25:34). Jesus has promised to repay each one for what he did or did not do. (Revelation 22:12).

APPLY

In light of knowing that God will have meaningful work and reward for us in the millennial kingdom. What are you doing now that will echo in eternity?

 

[1] Alcorn, Heaven