A Study in the Book of Esther : Lesson #6 A Lesson in the Rewards of God
In this lesson we are going to look at the last three chapters in the book of Esther and see how God punishes the wicked and rewards the righteous. We must remember as saved people that there is still a day of judgment for us, it is called the Judgment Seat of Christ. As we will see in this lesson this judgment is not about being saved or lost it is about what we did for Jesus after we are saved. Therefore we can take a spiritual application from how things end in Esther that can help us today.
In the last three chapters we see that after Haman was hanged that the King gave Esther the house of Haman and she told the King who Mordecai was to her. The she gave the house of Haman unto Mordecai (Esther 8:1-2). We see that Mordecai was given the King’s ring and royal apparel to wear and that eventually he is promoted to 2nd in command under the king (Esther 8:2,15 and 10:2-3).
In regards to the enemies of the Jews we see that many of them were killed and the plan that Haman had put forth to destroy them was halted by a new law from the King. Also we see that the 10 sons of Haman were hanged on the gallows that their father was hung on (Esther 9:1-14).
From this we see that God clearly can get the righteous out of temptation and deliver the unjust unto the day of judgment, which is exactly what the word of God says in 2 Peter 2:9. As a saved person we should take note of this because if we do right even though we may not seem to get rewarded in this life we will get rewarded in heaven. And even though there are some that seem to get away with doing wrong God will eventually catch up with them in the end.
In this lesson we will deal with the rewards of a saved person. We know that a lost person will be judged at the Great White Throne Judgment (Revelation 20:10-15). But for the scope of this lesson we will look at how God rewards saved people.
Where will saved people be judged?
Saved people will be judged at the Judgment Seat of Christ (Romans 14:10-12 ; 2 Corinthians 5:6-11). Both of these passages are dealing with saved born again people from the church age. This event will take place after the rapture of the church and before the marriage of the Lamb.
In the passage of Romans we see that it says that we must give an account unto God. And in 2 Corinthians it says that we will receive the things done in our body whether it be good or bad. So what this judgment is about is not whether a person is saved or not because if you were not saved you would not have gone up at the rapture. Therefore it is where we are judged for what we did in our bodies after we got saved.
Let us look at 1 Corinthians 3:9-15. This passage gives us what the Judgment Seat of Christ is all about.
1) It is our works that are judged at this judgment (Verse 13)
- In the verse it says that every man’s work shall be made manifest.
- Note also that in verse 12 two classes of works are mentioned. The first one is wood, hay, and stubble. The second one is gold, silver, and precious stones.
2) These works are to be judged by fire (Verse 13)
- The first class of works are all dead things and cannot go through the fire without burning up. The second class of works can withstand the fire.
3) The important thing is of what sort they are (Verse 13)
- Note that it is not how many or how much you accomplished it what sort it is that is important.
- The real thing that matters is the motive why did you do what you did. Did you do to please others or because you would gain from it on earth or did you do because God said so and you wanted to please him give glory and honor to him.
- God knows our heart and why we do what it is that we do and the fire at this judgment will reveal it to everyone else.
4) If your works make it through the fire you will receive a reward (Verse 14)
- The bible speaks of 5 different crowns that a saved person can earn and also there is the reigning with Jesus Christ in the millennium that is an earned reward.
5) If your works are burned up then you will lose your reward (Verse 15)
- The wording here is very important. Note that it says the person will suffer loss but he himself shall be saved. The loss a person will suffer is the loss of reward not losing their salvation.
Many people say that they are not worried about getting rewards, just about making it to heaven. But what they do not think about is having to stand there and look at the scars in the hands and feet of Jesus knowing that he gave everything for us and have to give an account for why they have nothing to show for it. Just think about how you would feel if one day when you came home from work or school and your house and everything you own has burned to the ground and all that is left is the ashes. This is how many will be at the Judgment Seat of Christ. Therefore knowing that God will reward the righteous in the end we should strive every day to serve God in a way that is pleasing unto him so we have something to show for it in eternity.
A Study in the Book of Esther : Lesson #6 A Lesson in the Rewards of God
Handout
1) What is one of the key things that we see in regards to the judgment and reward of God in the last three chapters of Esther? Give a verse that will show this principle.
2) Where is a saved person from the church age judgment and rewarded for what they did after they got saved? Give references for your answer.
3) What is a good passage for showing us what is judged and how it is judged at the Judgment Seat of Christ?
4) What is judged at the Judgment Seat of Christ and exactly how is it judged?
5) What is the important word in verse 13 that explains what it is about our works that are judged?
6) In regards to the answer of the above question what then should we be doing concerning our works for the Lord?
7) What happens to the saved person whose works make it through the fire? Give a verse for your answer.
8) What happens to the saved person whose works are burned up? Give a verse for your answer.