Genesis 15:3 is where God tells Abraham “I am your Shield, your very great Reward.”

Genesis 14 is where Abraham’s nephew, Lot, and all his family along with the kingdoms of Sodom and Gomorrah are kidnapped and taken captive by several kings. Abraham and his men go to rescue Lot and the other prisoners. The king of Sodom then comes to Abraham to thank him and reward him for his service. But Abraham refuses the reward. He doesn’t want the king to be able to say “Abraham became rich off me” but instead, Abraham wants the world to realize that his blessings and riches come from God Himself.

So, in Genesis 14 Abraham refuses the king’s reward. In Genesis 15 then God comes to Abraham and says “I am your Reward.”

If the choice were given to you, which would you choose? Wealth unimaginable, treasures untold, fame fortune, would you sell your soul for these? Or, like Abraham would you politely decline and say, “I will accept nothing less than God Himself as my reward. Keep your silver, your gold, your pearls and jewels, keep your clothing, servants, fame and popularity. As for me, I want Jesus.”

What does it mean to have the God of the universe as your reward? It means to no longer belong to yourself, but to Him. To put His ways higher than your’s. His desires come first as He becomes the Master and you the slave. God does not come lightly, nor without cost. For He will only come as God, nothing more, and nothing less.

But it also means to not only have peace available, but to know the Prince of peace intimately. It means to not only have love and feel love, but to know the God who is love personally.

To have the Lord God of the universe as your Reward means to know the reason you were created,
to fulfill the purpose for your existence,
to belong to something and Someone greater than yourself,
to have everything even though you may have nothing,
to be full even when you are empty,
to never be alone,
to never fail too much or fall too far.

It means to be lost in the wonder of all that God is and to be amazed at all that He has done and all that He will do.

So, which would you choose as your reward?

As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.