GLORY REWARD
The leaves on the tree outside the study window seemed to dance in the light breeze. Ah, yes! What is so rare as a day in June? A clear blue sky, and the sun announcing the longest day of the year was at hand. The physical world was giving humans the example of God's perfection. The example of spiritual perfection was not as sunny as the day outside the pastor's window. He always remembered the significance of crossing
the Rubicon. In itself, the Rubicon was not a physically significant river unless you were interested enough in history to understand the finality of the action. Once you crossed the river heading away from the city, you had made a spiritual decision, even though you may not be religious. You had decided to defend your nation and your people against an enemy. It could mean permanent separation.
The pastor's mind was not on a river, but on a cross. Crossing a river is physical; recognizing the Cross was spiritual, and was the key to everlasting life. The pastor knew these types of decisions occurred in the lives of all people, not just Christians. But for a Christian, especially a leader, the right choice affected the lives of many people. History was the witness that exposed the human carnage caused by church leaders of many faiths, but was especially telling for Jews and Christians. They had the one true God whose resurrected Son died on the cross to provide
everlasting life.
The pastor knew what he had to do and he could visualize the water of the Rubicon under the bridge. His eyes, however were on the cross on the hill. The leadership of this church was a dream position. The structure was over 200 years old, and had been carefully crafted of local stone. It was originally the centerpiece of a new university that too, was a beautiful example of a college campus. The church and university were loosely affiliated, but the university was a wonderful example of diversity. Pastors of several denominations had passed through its doors.
Shiny, expensive cars were filing into the parking lot across the street from the church. The men were all dressed as you'd expect at a corporate board meeting. These were the men who served on the University Board of Trustees. There were no women trustees. The church had never been able to move from all male dominance, or for women as pastors or high ranking leaders. He had watched several outstanding graduates move from the denomination because of this bias. It was a point the congregation and he could not agree upon. But, for the most part, it was a good congregation with a minimum amount of gossip and disagreement. Several members of the University's trustees were members of the church, including some who lived at a considerable distance.
The parking lot was now quite full, and the Pastor saw it was time for him to join the trustees. He usually sat in at their meetings, although he was not a trustee. He was the official presence of the church. The Pastor's wife entered the study, and quietly told him, "It's time, Dear." He hugged his wife as he acknowledged it was indeed time. "Lord," he said, "I ask you to go with me to this meeting, and open these men to the words You gave us through Your Son, who gave His life that we may live eternally." He held her hands, and said, "Sweetheart, His will will be done. I have my service to perform, and I willingly do it. God gives us all a choice, and rewards us accordingly." She answered, "I know the Holy Spirit is with you, and that's all you need. Whether they listen or not, you will give them the choice," With that, the Pastor left the church and crossed the street to the parking lot.
It was short walk to the administration building, which like most other buildings on campus were of stone and careful architecture. The meeting room was large, and the Pastor met and greeted most of the trustees who usually only saw each other at quarterly meetings. The University President was serving as the board chair for this meeting, which signified special importance. As action of minor importance and announcements proceeded, the Pastor's thoughts were on the meeting's main issue--the new 17 million dollar college of business building. It was a beautiful, state of the art building that would be part of the university's centerpiece. It would open to students this Fall. The problem would be naming the building. A graduate of the university had done quite well in the business world, and he was paying the entire 17 million dollars.
This was not an unusual situation. Many times the donor of large sums of money for new buildings or athletic facilities were honored in this way. A few years previously one of the university's science professors discovered a new system. He received recognition from his peers and national attention. The university received a large federal grant as a result and was able to construct a new science lab. The professor received a small monetary bonus. His name was not suggested for the new building. The bonus was so small, other universities realized they had the opportunity to grab this professor. Meanwhile, the recognition and human life saving value of the professor's discovery brought continuing benefits to the university. The professor received a much higher paying position as well as the department head at another university.
What bothered the Pastor was the lack of recognition for achievement in the field of academics while quickly rewarding financial advances. The real issue, however, was scriptural. Man can receive his rewards and recognition on earth from humans, but he then can expect no heavenly awards. Scripture tells us that we can't have it both ways. This man is doing a good thing for the university and mankind, and certainly deserves recognition. There are certain circumstances that color this decision. Placing the man's name on the building gives him the honor and credit for
its donation to the university. The man owed his success primarily to God's blessing. But it didn't stop there.
He began his business with a small wholesale grocery operation, and eventually moved into retail, and had established a popular and growing chain of stores in several states. He stressed mostly middle to upper quality products and kept his pricing reasonable for the majority of customers. He was a home town boy who knew and understood the buying habits of his town folk. Upon this solid base, he added his system of employment. This was the challenging point of his success and honor. He knew the type of middle class people who would work out just fine in his stores. He didn't have layoffs. He operated with a very poor and stark benefit program, which employees accepted because the jobs were always there. This sort of guarantee allowed him to set wages on the low end. When you put all this together, you came to the conclusion the employee sweat and dedication were responsible for the man's success. He had done the administrative and business planning, but also had
gained the lion's share of the profits. To be truthful, the building should bear the names of the employees whose dedicated work provided a major part of the profit. There was academic excellence in the business plan, but many other people were necessary to bring about success. The glory reflected in the new building would fall upon the donor alone. Thus, he would miss his reward in Heaven.
The President was now delivering the information about the building and the generosity of the donor. As the resolution was about to be made, the Pastor asked to make some comments, and was given the floor. "I make these comments respectfully and as the ordained pastor of our affiliated church," the Pastor began. "I agree whole heartedly with the wonderful benefit this building will bring to the university. I also agree it is a very generous gift to both the university and community. Because I have spent many years preaching the word of God, I believe I should make you aware of a choice scripture gives us in a situation such as this. I quote from Matt. 6:1-4.
"Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in Heaven. Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, that your charitable deed may be in secret, and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly."
As the Pastor concluded the passages, he saw the scripture was not well received. There were frowns, especially from some of the trustees who were not church members, and probably not saved. The Pastor said he did not mean to discredit the donation, but to explore the opportunity to follow scripture. There was some low key grumbling, and the President closed the meeting with the suggestion the Board review the option and meet with the donor before making a decision. The Board was scheduled to meet in two weeks. The beautiful June day had suddenly become very
spiritually cold.
Rev. Walbear
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