2nd John 8 FULLY REWARDED There are dangers to day that may not seem too serious at first glance because they are hidden under the guise of Christian teaching. It is up to us to "Look to ourselves" first to discern whether what we hear from others is what we know to be the truth of God we have received. Don't complicate the truth. Keep your faith simple and pure according to the scriptural pattern we know, have experienced personally and have passed on to others who we serve. False teachers talk about truth and love, but practice it in non-biblical ways.
Words can be used but do not always mean the same thing in each matter. Even the tone of voice one uses can change the meaning of the whole comment. False teachers use Bible terms sometimes to sell products, distort facts or take control of a situation to their own advantage. When people use Bible words in ways to promote themselves and get ahead, they are actually perjuring themselves if it is not used in the way it is found in the scripture. To false teachers, integrity is foreign and their so-called credibility is of no value. To those people to tell the truth, even to "swear" to tell the truth means very little.
To those who would seek to gain a following or get some personal advantage, love is a word only, not a fact. Songs, stories and cards talk about love, but only mean unusual feelings of euphoria or sentimentality. The Christian life because of who Christ is, is a contrast to the prevailing values of self-worth and comfort instead of truth. Lies are part of the process of living in business, politics, some marriages and families. Now lies are moving into churches that are trying to gain members. Hopefully we guard against this in scripturally gathered assemblies.
Loyalty to our Lord is a commandment to know and live His truth and His kind of love. In this way we reflect our Savior and act with love toward His people. His kind of love extends to those who are not yet saved, so we also need to look upon those who need God's salvation with the compassionate love of a shepherd who sees the "multitudes as sheep without a shepherd." It is in that context we need to guard those things we have wrought, or those things which we have worked for.
The "full reward" is for those who value what has been brought to them through the Gospel being preached to them. In turn they too have gained much by their faithful service for the Lord. If we listen to false teachers and accept their way of teaching, and their opinions, we need to be conscious of the fact that "a little leaven, leaveneth the whole lump. False teaching can have an effect on many people even if only one person gives heed to it.
John wanted a "full reward" at the judgment seat of Christ for his laborers in the Gospel and teaching on behalf of the elect lady and her children. He also wanted her to have a "full reward" from that which she had done in her life and service for the Lord. We all are producing something in our own lives and in our service for our Savior. When we do what we do as "unto the Lord" we are able to "glorify God in our bodies and spirits" which are His because He has bought us with His blood.
If for some reason I pay attention to what others say, and do more than what God's word teaches; I need to stop and "Look to [myself]." If I do not do that, I can be turned away from the truth of God that can be understood by simply taking God at His word, and I can lose that which I have gained in this life, even though it may have been in Christian service.
Persistence in labor, consistency in living and faithfulness to the Lord in spite of what others may say or do, will all pay off in the long run. If these things are really true in me, I will not be ashamed in this life nor at the Lord's coming. At the "bema," the judgment seat of Christ, I will not be embarrassed by my failures and carelessness. I must never allow God's truth to be contaminated by my neglect or wrong practices. So I must look to myself in view of being fully rewarded by having that which I can present to my Lord for His glory.
2nd John 8. “Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive and full reward.”
What is it I think of when the lives of others I see? Is it with a critical eye comparing who they are with me? Or is it with spiritual discernment to see if there is evidence of faith? Is the teaching they give the truth, given with love and grace?
Before looking at others and the things they do and say, I need to "look to myself" and consider each and every day, Lest all I have done in service, and said I truly believe Is considered of no value, and there will be no reward received.
Rewards come to those who were faithful to God, and to His holy word. Faithful men gave faithful words, which I believed when the Gospel I heard They will be rewarded at the "bema" for they work for the Lord they have done, And for the honor and glory they have brought to God the Son.
Rewards are for God's people when they are faithful in His service. Some are in view of the future, and some now when our Father blesses. Rewards at the judgment seat of Christ awaits us up ahead. Anxiously we long to hear, "Well done," from our Lord, the exalted Head.
Careful consideration should be given to our work "Hands full of purpose" we should spread as on the people we look. Making sure what I say I believe, and what I do are the same - That positive results and glory will be given to His holy name.
"Father, with reverence I ask that I will not seek credit nor self-glory for anything I do in Thy service. May it be indelibly impressed on my heart that I "look to myself" each day lest all that has been done that is of value from Thy work done through Thy servant, be tainted, compromised or lost through vain-glory. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen."