I see too often where I have spent too much effort on something in this world only to be disappointed in the results. I don’t mean that the results were not rewarding, only that the results were only rewarding in the moment and were not sustaining over time.
“1If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.” – Colossians 3:1-2 (ESV)
And there is where I am going wrong. It is not that the effort was not worthwhile, it was that the effort was not on those things that are sustaining over time. I should be doing the work for Christ and with Him in mind at all times. When I do, I will find myself in a position of satisfaction over time as the reward I am seeking is yet to come and not being presented in the moment.
I have a belief that rewarding someone for the work they have done is great and appreciated in the moment. But, I have too often been rewarded for my work with a meal. Whereas that meal is good and may not be something that I would necessarily do for myself, it is only good for the moment and forgotten the next day. The reward of something tangible that I can look at periodically and use more frequently is much more rewarding. Such as a shirt with a logo, a watch, a desktop clock, or some other item that is in view and useful over time is much more rewarding over time.
In my life with Christ, it is the reward in heaven that keeps me moving. My effort is expended on achieving the reward daily, as I will not receive it until I have reached heaven. I am therefore working continuously for that reward and will not stop expending effort until I have reached the reward. I will say that there are milestones here in this world that are realized, and I am excited to reach them, however I do not stop working until I have reached the reward promised me in heaven.
When you are expending effort, where are you looking for the reward to be given? Are you working for the goal above? What if you were doing all for the glory of God and your reward in heaven as opposed to the temporary satisfaction in this world?
Trevor's Thoughts 