Run for the Rewards

“His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’“  Matthew 25:21 ESV

In an article titled “10 Ways to Make Running in the Cold More Enjoyable,” the writer said “Running in the cold and winter conditions might not rank as your first choice for clocking miles, but it can offer some unique benefits. For example, while you may not get to bask in the sun, you can soak in the beautiful landscape of your neighborhood—because not much beats a winter wonderland view. Plus, with the right gear and mindset, you can not only continue training as usual, but you can even crush harder workouts. So, instead of skipping your outdoor run and heading inside to the cozy comforts of your home, use these tips for cold-weather running to make the best of each mile and enjoy outdoor running even in winter.” And the first and best tip? Run for a reward which “works well to get you motivated to move.” 

And, you know, when it comes to rewards that motivate us to move when we’d be more comfortable staying put, the parable of the bags of gold tells us that God rewards those who use what He gives them to increase what is His, rather than hoard those things or bury them out of fear —as He did the first servant who used his master's five talents to earn another five talents, and the second servant who turned the master's two bags of gold into four. Because of their diligence and faithfulness (notice they were commended for their faithfulness rather than their brilliance) in furthering or growing the Kingdom, the loyal and devoted workers who were moved to action had the priceless reward of hearing God say,  “Well done, good and faithful servant." They were further rewarded with greater opportunity and shared joy and communion with the Master upon his return. 

So, be sure to faithfully use the resources God has supplied you with to build up the Kingdom my friend—remembering that faithfulness means being reliable, steadfast, and unwavering in your commitment to God, demonstrating loyalty and trust through actions that align with God's word, even in challenging situations. In other words, faithfulness means living to please God above all else and chasing that reward until the final finish line is reached.

Heavenly Father, thank You for reminding us that every resource we have (our time, talents, treasures, skills, abilities) is given to us BY You to be used FOR You. Knowing that, help us to be found busy, hard-working, and faithful upon your return so that we too might be rewarded for our service by hearing those words, "Well done, good and faithful servant' and then share in the joy of our Master. It’s in your precious and we pray Jesus. Amen.

Happy Running!