Where Is Your Reward?
Choosing between the world’s comfort and Christ’s blessing
In Luke 6:17–26, Jesus stands on a level place, surrounded by a crowd that wants two things:
to hear Him and to be healed.
Then He turns His eyes toward His disciples—people who already follow Him—and asks, in effect:
“Where is your reward?”
Here and now?
Or with Me, forever?
This isn’t Jesus explaining how to get saved.
This is Jesus explaining how saved people are called to live.
He’s contrasting two kinds of lives, and two kinds of rewards:
- The life that lives for this world
- The life that lives for Jesus and eternity
Let’s walk through both.
1. The Reward of the World
Jesus gives four sobering “woes”:
“Woe to you who are rich…
Woe to you who are now full…
Woe to you who are now laughing…
Woe to you when all people speak well of you…” (vv. 24–26)
He’s not saying it’s automatically sinful to have money, enjoy good food, laugh, or be well-liked.
The problem is not the gift—it’s when the gift becomes the goal.
- Rich – When comfort, security, and possessions are what you live for
- Full – When every desire has to be satisfied now
- Laughing – When life is one big distraction from what’s broken and eternal
- Spoken well of by all – When people’s approval matters more than God’s approval
And notice the tense Jesus uses:
“You have received your comfort.” (v. 24)
In other words:
If you live for the world’s rewards, you might actually get them.
But that’s all you’ll get.
The world’s rewards are:
- Real – you really can gain money, status, comfort, applause
- Temporary – they cannot follow you past the grave
- Uncertain – you can lose them at any moment
- Unsatisfying – they never give the deep peace they promise
Jesus sums it up with one word: “Woe.”
How dreadful. How tragic. How empty to gain what doesn’t last.
Honest Check-In: Am I Chasing the World’s Reward?
Ask yourself:
- What most excites me or keeps me up at night—God’s kingdom or my own little kingdom?
- Do I only feel “blessed” when life is comfortable and easy?
- Am I more afraid of disappointing people than disobeying Jesus?
- Is my schedule driven more by sports, activities, money, or image than by Christ?
If we’re honest, all of us drift toward worldly rewards.
Jesus isn’t shaming us here—He’s warning us and inviting us to something better.
2. The Reward of Eternity
Then Jesus flips the script:
“Blessed are you who are poor…
Blessed are you who are now hungry…
Blessed are you who weep now…
Blessed are you when people hate you… because of the Son of Man.” (vv. 20–22)
Again, He’s not saying that poverty, hunger, tears, and rejection are automatically holy.
The key phrase is this:
“Because of the Son of Man.” (v. 22)
This is the difference.
He’s talking about people who:
- Choose faithfulness to Jesus over financial ease
- Choose obedience over constant comfort
- Grieve over sin, suffering, and a broken world
- Are willing to be misunderstood, mocked, or rejected because they belong to Him
To those people, Jesus says:
“Rejoice in that day and leap for joy! Take note—your reward is great in heaven.” (v. 23)
It sounds wild, doesn’t it?
Poor… but blessed.
Hungry… but blessed.
Weeping… but blessed.
Hated… but blessed.
Why?
Because the blessings of eternity are:
- Certain – nothing can touch them
- Forever – not fragile, not fading
- Deeply satisfying – they bring a peace the world can’t give or take away
You may not always feel “successful” in the eyes of the world,
but you are seen, known, and rewarded by your King.
How Do We Live for Eternal Reward This Week?
This isn’t about trying to earn God’s love.
If you’re in Christ, you already have His love.
This is about aligning your life with what actually lasts.
Here are some simple, practical ways to respond this week:
1. Re-center Your Heart on Jesus
Pray honestly:
“Lord, show me where I’m chasing the world more than I’m chasing You.”
Then:
- Confess any area where comfort, money, image, or approval has become your functional god.
- Ask the Spirit to help you desire Him more than temporary rewards.
2. Choose “Less Now, More Forever”
Pick one area where you can gladly accept “less” in this life for the sake of Christ:
- Give generously—even if it means less for your wants
- Say “no” to one activity so you can say “yes” to worship, rest, or serving
- Fast from something (social media, entertainment, or a meal) to create space for prayer
- Take the harder, more honest route instead of the easier, compromised one
Let it hurt a little.
Let it remind you: “I’m not living for this world’s reward.”
3. Allow Yourself to Mourn What’s Broken
Jesus says, “Blessed are you who weep now…”
This week:
- Don’t numb out when you see suffering, sin, or injustice—bring it to God
- Pray for someone who’s hurting instead of just scrolling past their pain
- If your own life feels heavy right now, be honest with God—He meets you there
Mourning with Jesus is not a sign that something’s wrong with your faith.
It’s a sign that your heart is lining up with His.
4. Stand with Jesus When It Costs You
If you’re insulted, excluded, or misunderstood because of Jesus, remember:
“Your reward is great in heaven.”
This week:
- Don’t hide your faith just to avoid awkwardness
- Speak gently but clearly when you need to stand on biblical truth
- Choose obedience even if it costs you reputation, opportunity, or comfort
You’re in good company—that’s how they treated the prophets too (v. 23).
So… Where Is Your Reward?
If your reward is here, you might get it—
but it will never be enough, and it will never last.
If your reward is with Jesus, you may lose some things now—
but you gain a peace, a purpose, and a future that nothing can shake.
This week, don’t just ask:
“Am I blessed?”
Ask:
“Where is my reward—here, or in heaven?”
And then, by God’s grace, choose Jesus. Every time you do, you’re trading “woe” for “blessed.”