"Indeed if we consider the unblushing promise of reward and the staggering nature of the rewards pormised in the Gospels, it would seem that our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are too easily pleased." C. S. Lewis
"A third and final misconception is that it is selfish to think of rewards as a proper motivation to serve Christ.
Of course, it is quite right that we should serve God simply because He is God and worthy of our devotion. Yes, we should serve Him because we love Him rather than wanting a better position in the kingdom. Servants should simply serve, expecting nothing in return. But, as we shall see, there is more than one motivation for serving Christ, Love is one; fear, another.
Another motivation for serving is a strong desire that we should please Christ, Who is eager to share His inheritance with us. It is not selfish to want Christ's approval. He wants us to win the right to rule with Him in the Kingdom, and that should be our passionate yearning."
Your Eternal Reward, p. 15 and 16. E. W. Lutzer (Senior Pastor of Moody Church in Chicago)
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