爸爸在工廠和自家農場勤奮工作，但他不擅長修繕。每當我們的拖拉機、暖爐或水管壞了，常常都是鄰居或朋友來幫忙維修。爸爸雖知自己負擔不起他們應得的酬勞，但仍想要付費，而他們都一概婉拒，純粹是樂於助人。爸爸會說：「謝謝，將來你會有更豐厚的回報。」我至今仍不確定這話的意思，或許是指他或別人以後會為他們做些什麼吧！

信耶穌的人因為愛祂而服事別人，有一天也會得獎賞，或許這就是另一種「更豐厚的回報」。耶穌告訴門徒要「積攢財寶在天上」（馬太福音6章20節），行善助人可能就是積攢這類「財寶」的方式。然而，耶穌告誡我們不可「吹號」宣揚自己的善行，否則我們得到的賞賜就僅此而已（2節）。我們可以確信，上帝已經看見我們隱秘的善行。希伯來書再次強調這個觀念，那就是上帝不會「忘記你們的工作和你們為祂的名所顯的愛心，就是你們過去和現在伺候聖徒的愛心」（6章10節，和合本修訂版）。

我們服事並非為了獎賞，而是因為耶穌先愛我們，我們以愛與讚美來回應祂。當有一天我們聽見上帝說：「好，你這又良善又忠心的僕人」（馬太福音25章21、23節），那將是多麽大的祝福啊！

My dad was a hard worker on our farm and in the factory, but he wasn’t a handyman. Sometimes when our tractor or furnace or plumbing failed, a neighbor or friend would fix it. Dad offered to pay even though he knew he couldn’t afford as much as they deserved. But they wouldn’t accept anything; they just loved to help. “Thanks,” he’d say, “until you’re better paid.” I’m still not sure what he meant. Maybe he or someone else did something for them later.

Believers in Jesus who serve others because of their love for Him will one day be rewarded. Perhaps that’s a form of “until you’re better paid.” Jesus told His followers to “store up for yourselves treasures in heaven” (Matthew 6:20). Doing good to others may be one way to store up some of those “treasures.” He said we shouldn’t announce it “with trumpets”; if we do, that’s all the reward we’ll get (v. 2). We can be confident He sees us. The book of Hebrews reinforces this idea: “God . . . will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them” (6:10).

We don’t serve for rewards but rather because Jesus loves us, and in response we express our love and praise for Him. What a blessing it will be to hear God say, “Well done, good and faithful servant!” (Matthew 25:21, 23).