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April 22, 2005
I Am Your Reward
by Cindy Tucker
For many, many years Abraham yearned for a son. He had many servants and slaves, but no sons. The closest kin he had was his nephew, Lot. After Abraham’s brother and father died, Abraham took on the responsibility of providing for Lot. How he must have loved and nurtured Lot! Lot must have been like a son to him. Abraham shares out of his great wealth, for Lot soon has his own flocks and herds and tents.(Gen.13:5)
The day comes when the land can not support both Abraham and Lot’s holdings. Their herdsmen quarrel over land and water. Abraham didn’t want disunity and strife between himself and his beloved nephew. What sadness he must have felt as he suggested to Lot that they part ways. In humility and trust in God, he gives Lot first choice of the land and watches Lot go his own way.
Lot’s choice turns out to be unwise. He becomes a victim of the war between Kedorlaomer and his allies vs. the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah and their allies. Because he lived in the losing territory, Lot and his possessions are carried off as a spoil of war.
When Abraham learns of this, he gathers 318 of his trained men, routs the enemy, and rescues the people and goods of Sodom and Gomorrah. All this effort to rescue a wayward nephew!
As the victor, Abraham has the right to take the spoils of war. The king of Sodom offers him the goods of the vanquished. But Abraham tells him, “I have raised my hand to the Lord, the most high…and have taken an oath, that I will accept nothing belonging to you,… so that you will never be able to say, ‘I made Abram rich…”
Abraham turns down worldly treasures so that he is not beholden to any one but God.
He has every right to it, but he chooses another reward.
Women of the church are much like Abraham. We willingly give up our rights as we submit to the leadership of church authority and our husbands. We give up the worldly desire to be self –indulgent as we meet the needs of our family, church, and community. We put our career desires on hold as we raise our children and serve as helpmates to our husbands. There are days when we can’t see beyond the stacks of dirty dishes, mounds of laundry, and endless dirty diapers. There are the 1 year old’s crying, 3 year old’s tantrum, 6 year old’s smart mouth,9 year old’s know-it –all attitude, 13 year old’s tantrum, the distant 16 year old, and the trials and tribulations of grown children. There are aging parents to care for. There are preoccupied husbands who don’t notice the sudden appearance of clean socks or underwear in their drawer. There is the lack of hours in the day for women who try to juggle career, family, and home. These women are on the front line of representing Christ in sometimes hostile work environments. We stand up for what is right and attempt to live by God’s standards, even if that makes us unpopular. Our choice to follow God’s call may lower our income or keep us from being invited to the “best” parties. We might not ever be famous or important in the eyes of the world. We might not see tangible or immediate rewards for our labors.
We, like Abraham, give up the immediate reward for something much better. What was the reward that Abraham chose, that we choose as we serve family, church, and community?
God appeared to Abraham and said, “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward. (Gen.15:1) God is our reward, the very Creator of Heaven and earth. Not just what He gives us, but God Himself, His very Presence, is our reward.
Posted by fraubleuler at April 22, 2005 07:37 AM
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