STRMW part 3

Here is another scripture that has rocked my world recently. 1st Thessalonians 2:19-20 - Check it out. Paul wrote this to the Thessalonian church about a trip he was prevented from making to see them. Because his trip was stopped (by Satan according to verse 18), he wanted to express how he felt for them in the letter he wrote them. But check out what he says:

19 After all, what gives us hope and joy, and what will be our
proud reward and crown as we stand before our Lord Jesus when he
returns? It is you! 20 Yes, you are our pride and joy.

WHOA! This scritpure shows me that the people that God has entrusted us with aren't just people. As leaders in God's service, the people God has entrusted us with, they are our REWARD! They are our crowns. They are our heavenly jewels.

So to all of you pastors and leaders out there, remember the people under your care are your reward. Not the salary you receive (or don't receive), not the "excellence awards" you receive, not the magazine covers, not the newspaper articles and not the referals you receive from other pastors. The people are you reward.

So how will you treat your reward? Is your reward currently being treated like the
10th place ribbon you received from Little League Baseball 20 years ago? Or are you treating your reward like the highest thing you can receive? When the kids in your youth ministry act up, do you just say "Well, its their parents problem"? Or do you say "They are my reward and I must do what I can to work with their parents (if possible) to help them lead the full life God intends"?

The people under my care are my rewards from God. That truth, rocked my world.