I am going to presume that almost everyone you know, including possibly yourself, that is employed in the workforce is paid an hourly wage, which is indicative of two main factors, how much profit the company is willing to give up for those employee wages, and your worth within and to that company. In most cases, the more knowledge you have about what you are employed as is relative to the amount you will be paid. Even the Scriptures reveal these simple truths.
“The labourer is worthy of his reward.” (1st Tim. 5:18b)
If you have been born again you are employed as an ambassador of the Kingdom of the Living God, and you are expected to obtain results for Him. You have already been paid, eternal life, your responsibilities include loving your neighbor, always esteeming others higher than yourself, kindness and compassion, but along with that you are to judge with righteous judgment, remain unspotted from the ways of this world, to despise evil and stand for righteousness.
“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (2nd Tim. 2:15)
You have been given the manual on how to do all this and you are expected, even commanded, to study and contemplate it at length. Your employer, your God, your Father in heaven is a jealous God and will tolerate no other love for others, for love even of your own life, above your love for Him. And no different than your employer here on earth, if the Almighty’s rules and regulations are not followed, there will be punishments and perhaps loss of any bonuses, what the Scriptures call rewards.
But there is one thing that will never happen to you if you are truly hid in Christ, you will never be fired. You may be dismissed from your current assignment if you prove to be slack in it, if it does not suit your taste, that is really no concern of the Almighty. But you will never be dismissed from His eternal presence, this job my friends lasts for all eternity.
His wrath will never fall upon you, but His displeasure might.
We are a family, and no member of this family is ever cast away, but there is discipline for those who attempt to return to the world, who decide that their will for their life is more important than the will of the Most High for them. You could in a sense call it a forced sabbatical, but do not be misled, do not think that you can leave or that He will let you leave.
“If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.” (Psalm 139:8)
And in all honesty, we would not want to leave the most honest, caring, loving and compassionate employer that we have ever or will ever know.
Payment in full will be received when you are glorified, crowns for those who have earned them here by their diligent and hard work, serving for His glory, yielding themselves to His will.
Do not expect your checking and savings account to grow, do not expect the treasures of this world, and definitely do not expect any overtime pay, days off, sick or vacation time. Even your health insurance must be totally left in His hands. Expect the promises, but do not expect any rewards, these are His to give, and they will only be given to those who have earned them here, who have truly died to self.
As for your retirement benefits, well, there are none better anywhere.
“But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.” (1st Cor. 2:9)
