234. Work Rewarded
Jeremiah 31:16 Thus saith the Lord; Refrain thy voice from weeping, and thine eyes from tears: for thy work shall be rewarded, saith the Lord; and they shall come again from the land of the enemy.
You don’t have to cry and weep. If it seems your work and service is not noticed, if no one thanks you for what you do, if it feels like your giving and serving is not doing anything to make a difference, if your life appears useless and worthless, if you feel like you are the only one who gives and serves and works, then remember the promise that God is counting and noticing, and He will give just rewards for every small or great act of kindness and love. God will reward your work. Jesus says that even giving a cup of cold water will not go unrewarded. God is just and He will definitely reward a genuine good work done out of faith.
Of course, if you do the work in the flesh and by your own effort, reason and strength there is no reward for it. If you do a good work just for a reward and for selfish motives there is no reward. A good work that is noticed and rewarded by the Lord is a work that God has done in you and through you. When you do a good work from faith and because of the love of God, He notices, He counts and He rewards. It is important that we believe that every work done by God using us has a reward. No one else has to notice if we know that God does. This works for us during times of persecution and suffering: God notices and He rewards. So hang on.
The other part of this promise refers to the Jews in Exile in Babylon: they shall come again from the land of the enemy. This is a Biblical promise that applies spiritually to believers in Jesus Christ. The Lord brings us again from the land of the enemy. “The land of the enemy” is the world (Babylon), where the Enemies of the soul (Sin, Death, Devil) rule and take over our lives. Sin rules, Death reigns, and Satan usurps authority as the prince of the power of the air. But by faith in Jesus we will come again from the land of our Spiritual Enemies. He returns us to our proper Home, which is with God in His eternal life and presence (heaven). Jesus has made His home in the heart, and that is where you belong, safe and sound. In the Home of God are many countless rewards. Count on it!