THE REWARD my friend look to the reward

There once lived a young man named Tim, who dreamed of running a marathon. Not just any marathon, but the famous “Ultimate Summit” marathon, known for its steep hills and beautiful views. But there was a catch: Tim was more of a “sit and watch” guy than a runner. His mornings were filled with snooze alarms, and his evenings were Netflix marathons—definitely not the running kind. Deep down, Tim knew he had to start training, but the motivation just wasn’t there.One day, his friend Sarah came to visit. Sarah was the kind of person who ran marathons for fun and looked like she could climb mountains without breaking a sweat. Tim shared his struggle, expecting Sarah to laugh it off. But she didn’t. Instead, Sarah said, “Tim, you’re like the person in Proverbs 29:18—without vision, the people perish. You’ve lost sight of the goal! You’re focused on the pain of the run, when you should be focusing on the reward. What happens after you finish the marathon?”Tim sighed. “I guess I’ll feel good, but there’s no real reward. Just more running.”Sarah smiled knowingly. “You’re missing the point. Hebrews 12:1 says, ‘Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus.’ In your case, you need to fix your eyes on something worthwhile. Imagine, after finishing that marathon, you’ve earned yourself a two-week vacation on a tropical beach, or maybe the newest, coolest pair of running shoes. Now, doesn’t that change things?”Tim sat up, intrigued. “Yeah, but what if I don’t finish?”Sarah’s grin widened. “That’s the consequence, Tim! Galatians 6:7 reminds us, ‘Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.’ If you don’t train and don’t finish, you’ll have to face the consequences. How about this: If you don’t finish, you donate $500 to that politician you really can’t stand. Now, there’s your motivation! You see, Tim, it’s not just about running; it’s about making sure the reward is greater than the consequence. Even Jesus, ‘for the joy set before Him endured the cross’ (Hebrews 12:2). The joy ahead gave Him the strength to endure.”Tim laughed nervously. “$500? That’s a lot. I don’t think I could stomach that!”“Exactly!” Sarah replied. “But don’t focus on the consequence. Focus on the reward. Philippians 3:14 says, ‘I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.’ Keep your eyes on the prize, and make sure every step you take leads you toward that reward, not the bitter consequence.”Tim took her advice seriously. He put a picture of a beach on his fridge, reminding himself of the joy ahead, just like the Bible tells us to set our minds on things above (Colossians 3:2). Every time he felt like skipping a run, he remembered the consequence—$500 gone, and nothing to show for it.As Tim trained, his focus shifted from the pain of running to the reward of the finish line. Like Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 9:24, “Run in such a way as to get the prize.” He realized that every step, every early morning, was part of the journey toward something greater.In the end, Tim didn’t just finish the marathon—he crushed it. Not because he focused on the hardship, but because he kept his eyes fixed on the reward. His running journey became a lesson in faith, effort, and enduring toward a promised prize.The lesson is simple: Don’t focus on the struggles; focus on the reward. Like Colossians 3:23 says, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.” Every action you take today is leading you either toward the reward or toward consequences. Keep your eyes on the prize and run your race with endurance, knowing there’s a greater reward ahead!