The Rock Weekly – February 14, 2024

The Crown of Righteousness

Paul, in a letter to his spiritual son Timothy, shares a very encouraging and insightful declaration about his own life. 

[2Ti 4:6-8 ESV]  “For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come.  I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.  Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved His appearing.”

Paul endured in his calling as an apostle to the Gentiles with an eternal mindset (Rom. 8:18; 2 Cor. 4:17) knowing that God was going to reward his faithfulness. But when we think of the “crown of righteousness”, what do we think of? There are a few answers to this question, but one thing that the Scriptures reveal is that the crown of righteousness  is related to the people Paul discipled in his missionary journeys. Here are a few verses the Lord highlighted to me this week that helped me see this with greater understanding. 

Here is where Paul sees the people of the church of Thessalonica as his crown. 

[1Th 2:17-20 ESV] “But since we were torn away from you, brothers, for a short time, in person not in heart, we endeavored the more eagerly and with great desire to see you face to face, because we wanted to come to you–I, Paul, again and again–but Satan hindered us.  For what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at His coming? Is it not you?  For you are our glory and joy.”

As we read this, we see similar language to the first Scripture. The coming of the Lord Jesus is being mentioned again and the “crown” that he will receive is being referenced, but here the “crown” is in reference to the disciples that are persevering in the Lord in Thessalonica. Paul is saying that the time he spent teaching them to obey the commandments of Jesus and their wholehearted response will actually be the basis for how Jesus rewards him in the age to come. 

Paul also speaks of his labor in the church of Corinth with a similar mindset. 

[2Co 1:14 ESV] “…that on the day of our Lord Jesus you will boast of us as we will boast of you.”

Again, the context is the return of the Lord and Paul’s boasting about the faithful endurance of these saints in Corinth, and they’re boasting of his missionary efforts in the presence of Jesus at His second coming. 

To summarize, what I’m seeing in these three passages of Scripture is that our eternal reward is tied to our action of love for those around us. God will remember the ways we pour ourselves out for others by sharing Jesus with them and walking alongside them as they grow in maturity. Making disciples will be seen as time well spent in eternity, so continue to “fight the good fight” and to “run the race” that God has set before you in making disciples. 

Love, 

Pastor Marcus and The Rock Staff



 

 

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