‘If I do this thing willingly, I have a reward.’ What reward? First of all, the joy of seeing people saved.
That man’s joy and that woman's joy is now in Christ, not in things lying about the house, not in possessions on earth; it is a much higher joy. People are delivered from loss and death. That person who is close to you and dear to you, but hell-bound, and tied up in unbelief: now they are delivered and saved. That is a source of great joy. Christ went to Calvary for the joy that was set before him, the joy that every lost sinner brings to Christ. The triumph of mercy and grace over sin, the triumph of belief over unbelief! That man, that woman, believed the militant atheists, slandered God, said dreadful things. Now look at him: praising God, holding by faith, believing deeply the wonderful things of Christ. These things give tremendous joy. The victory over unbelief and the wonder of the power of God in transforming life; all these things add up to tremendous happiness and joy.
‘Oh,’ you say, ‘that is not a great joy to me. It is nice for them. I am pleased, but I don't say it is a great joy.’ Well then, there is something very seriously the matter with you. As a Christian, pray to God that your tastes and your estimation of joy will be lined up with his, the Lord's. It should be a great joy to us. Pray that your tastes will be made spiritual and refined, so that that is your great happiness: to see people saved. ‘If I do this thing willingly, I have a reward.’