God Is "Reward"

The subject of reward can be best understood in scriptures when we begin by looking at the life of Abram. The very first time the word reward is mentioned in scripture is in

Genesis 15:1(NKJV)

“After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, saying, “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward.”

Emphasis Mine

God says to Abram, I am…your exceedingly great reward. Meaning God is the reward. He did not say I will give you something as a reward. It suffices to say that the reward to Abram was not a “what” but rather a “who”. Amen

Other scriptures make this clear.

Isaiah 62:11 (NKJV)

Indeed the Lord has proclaimed, To the end of the world: “Say to the daughter of Zion, ‘Surely your salvation is coming; Behold, His reward is with Him,
And His work before Him.’ ”

Emphasis Mine

Revelation 22:12 (NKJV)

 “And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work.

Emphasis Mine

Here is the point we are emphasizing. In your relationship with Him, understand that He is your reward. In Abram’s relationship with God, God established with Him that He (God) is his reward. However, we can see that Abram did not really understand the depth of that statement from God because right after the statement was made Abram said to God “What can you give me since I remain childless…? (Genesis 15:2 NKJV).

Even Jesus, when He first talked about reward in Matthew 5:12 (NKJV), He referred to the location of reward saying rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven.

Abram’s approach is not an uncommon approach because even in our relationship with Him today, we relate with Him based on “what” we can get not for “who’ He is. Amen. So our goal today is to cause a shift in our thought pattern as concerns reward and relationship with the Father.

Please do not forget “His reward is with Him” Isaiah 62:11 (NKJV) and in Revelation 22:12 (NKJV) He says, “My reward is with Me”. So, please do not look for reward out of Him. Amen.

Back to

 Hebrews 11:6 (KJV)

And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

Emphasis Mine

Your knowledge of His existence precedes His reward and that is so because, if you do not believe He exists, He cannot be your reward because He is the reward. Amen.