With Apostle Joseph Ziba
Fix Your Attention on God for Your Reward
Genesis 15:1 KJV
“After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.”
Some years ago, in my early years of ministry, I was invited to minister outside the country, Malawi. Ministering in foreign countries in those days appeared a big deal. I saw several pastors who went outside the country to minister coming back with a ‘good fortune’— they brought back with them money, clothes and other gifts. Since I was struggling to make ends meet in those days, I built a wrong expectation. Apart from expecting the miracles, signs and wonders and the great ministry of God’s Word, I looked forward to bringing some ‘goodies’ (cash and other material things) at the end of everything as all pastors did.
During the services, God proved Himself faithful. The lost were saved, the sick were healed, the revelation of God’s Word was great— God moved. On the third and last day of my ministry, I was ‘a little disturbed’ since I saw nothing ‘tangible’ (you know what I mean….) coming from the host pastor. The question that ‘haunted’ me was, ‘When am I going to receive my reward (the money and the other gifts)?’
During that last service the host pastor of the church which I went to asked the congregation to give a love offering to me to carry home. I smiled and said to myself, ‘Aha, that great moment has come!’ To my surprise, the money the congregation gave wasn’t even enough for a transport fare from that country back to Malawi. The host pastor added some little amount to that money so that I would have enough to take me back home. I felt down and disappointed.
As I was in the bus, coming back to Malawi, I was utterly sombre. I cried and asked God why He was so ‘unjust’ to me. I asked why He would not pay me back for all the labour that I had done for Him. I questioned why I would go back home empty-handed, a case which was different from my fellow ministers of the gospel.
In the midst of my crying God spoke to me audibly right in that bus. He asked a single question ‘Whom are you serving?’ ‘Are you serving people or me?, He continued. ‘If you are serving me, look to me for your reward.’ He calmly told me.
Oh, those words were so relieving, uplifting and refreshing! From then onwards, when I offer my service to God, I don’t look at what men are going to offer to me. I look to God. And He has been an exceeding Great Reward to me. He has never disappointed me since that time! Glory be to His name forever!
You see, nobody serves God in vain. He says I’ve not asked the seed of Jacob to seek me in vain. (Isaiah 45:19). Whatever you are doing— the services that you are offering to God— there will be a day that He will reward you. (Hebrews 6:10; Galatians 6:9). Therefore, keep on serving Him and abound in the same!
PRAYER
Dear Heavenly Father, thank You very much for refreshing, uplifting, energizing and comforting me with Your Word. Thank You for flooding my eyes with Your light so that I can see that nobody serves You in vain. I now know that there’s a reward in the service that I offer to You. I will spend myself in serving You Lord, from today until my final breath on the face of the earth. In the name of Jesus. Amen!
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