JOSHUA 15:13-19

GOD'S INCENTIVE PLAN

 

While living up in Sweet Valley PA, Dottie and I had the invite to visit a place called "Shawnee Village".  The idea was that if we went, we would receive certain "gifts for going", including a camera, and a check for travel.  We went and realized that someone was going to try and sell us a "time shared vacation apartment." We didn't buy, but managed to get the salesman mad at us. However, we did receive our gifts from coming, and they were really the incentive to get us to visit them.

 

Incentives are common. Every once in a while you will hear of a person who is offering a reward for information leading to the arrest and/or conviction of a person who committed a certain crime.  The offered reward supposedly helps the person with information to speak up.

 

Another type of incentive is offered for certain jobs. In these cases a person works for a commission as either part or all of his salary. My brother Art currently works selling carpet, and part of his salary is based on commission.

 

Still another type of incentive is the "free gift", which comes when you purchase a product or service. For instance, you get can get a free gift when you open a checking account at some banks. Some airlines will give you free plane tickets if you rack up a certain number of "frequent flyer" miles.

 

Incentives are not new. They are used to motivate people to do things which they might not always get around to doing otherwise.  And surprisingly enough, God has for the Christian the best incentive plan ever. Not that the Christian should need incentive to serve the Lord. As the Bible says ...we love him because he first loved us...

 

Jesus said, If you love me, keep my commandments.

 

And, Romans 12:1 says that because of the mercies of God, we should present our bodies a living sacrifice.

Nevertheless less, God has an incentive program for believers.

 

This incentive program involves what the Bible calls "rewards".

And these rewards are handed out at what is known as the "Judgment Seat Of Christ".  Tonight we see this incentive plan illustrated through Caleb.

 

BACKGROUND

 

Joshua and the children of Israel had crossed the River Jordan, and began to conquer the land.

The land had been conquered enough so that each individual tribe should have been able to drive out for themselves the remaining enemies within their territory.

 

The was being divided by "lot", but first, Caleb had come and requested that Joshua keep the promise made to him from God through Moses. The promise was that he would receive a certain portion of land due to his faithfulness during the wilderness wanderings.

 

Caleb did not request an easy place to conquer. He requested a mountain swarming with the enemy. Joshua had granted this request. Tonight we see Caleb actually possessing his possession. Here we see 3 things about God's incentive plan, as pictured or reflected through Caleb.

 

GOD'S INCENTIVE PLAN: INVOLVES OTHERS

                                      INCLUDES REWARDS

                                      INSPIRES PRAYER

 

 

GOD'S INCENTIVE PLAN INVOLVES OTHERS Vss. 13-15

 

Vss. 13-14 - Notice that Caleb went in and possessed the town he wanted - Hebron. He proved the claim in made before Joshua in Joshua 14:11 

 

As yet I [am as] strong this day as [I was] in the day that Moses sent me: as my strength [was] then, even so [is] my strength now, for war, both to go out, and to come in.

 

Anak was a big man, and the sons of Anak were big men.

 

But Caleb decides not to stop with Hebron. He evidently decides to clean up the neighborhood. Evidently, this was also territory allotted to Caleb.

 

Vs. 15 - Caleb comes to Debir, whose original name meant "City of the book." Here he decides that he is going to give the joy of conquering this city to someone else.

Does this mean that he was suddenly weak?

Does this mean that he was suddenly incapable?

Does this mean that he was suddenly scared, and that he "choked", or lost his nerve?

 

OF COURSE NOT!!

 

A.W. PINK - This should not be understood as an exhibition of any personal sloth on Caleb's part, still less of fear, but rather as his affording an opportunity for another to obtain some laurels himself."

A.W. Pink, Gleanings in Joshua, (Chicago, Moody Press, 1964) p. 355

 

Caleb was capable. He was sharing the wealth. Besides, because it was his duty to look for a suitable husband for his daughter, he uses this as a way of finding a good man.

 

Now, let's look at this in relation to God..

God did not need any man's help to create anything.

Nor does He need our help to keep the universe in control.

Nor did He need any help in saving us . He did it through His Son.

 

And really God would not need our help today, unless He wanted it. AND HE DOES!

God has chosen to involve us as Christians in his plan for winning the world to himself.

It's not that God is incapable, it's that He wants to use us.

 

Matthew 28:18-20 - And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, [even] unto the end of the world. Amen.

 

1 Corinthians 1:21 - For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.

 

Matthew 5:16 - Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

 

Romans 12:6-8 - Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, [let us prophesy] according to the proportion of faith; Or ministry, [let us wait] on [our] ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, [let him do it] with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.

 

1 Peter 4:10-11 - As every man hath received the gift, [even so] minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. If any man speak, [let him speak] as the oracles of God; if any man minister, [let him do it] as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

 

If God has saved you, He wants to involve you in His work.

There is a job for each and every one of us.

Some jobs are spectacular, some are not.

Some jobs put a person in front of people, others do not.

Some jobs receive men's recognition, others do not.

 

But God has something for each of us to do.

 

He might want you to be a Sunday School or Small Blessings teacher.

He might want you to use your musical talents.

He might want you to be a helper in various projects around the church.

He might want you to be a church leader.

He might want you to hand out tracts - Something Dottie's quiet mother used to do when she went out to eat.

He might want you to be a giver so others can spread the Gospel.

 

God does want you to witness.

God does want you to pray.

 

God wants to involve you.

He hasn't chosen the angels.

He hasn't chosen to light up the Heavens.

He hasn't personally shouted out of the sky.

He hasn't started His own printing press business.

He has chosen to involve us to be His hands, His feet, His arms, His legs, His voice.

 

Just as Caleb involved others in the conquering of the land, God chooses to involve us.

 

GOD'S INCENTIVE PLAN INVOLVES OTHERS

GOD'S INCENTIVE PLAN INCLUDES REWARDS

 

Vss. 16-17 - In the case of Caleb, he offered his daughter as the reward for a job well done.

 

Othniel, first of the judges of Israel, was the one who took the city and received the reward.

 

God also offers rewards for jobs which are well done.

As we have said before, the Judgment Seat of Christ is a judgment for believers only, and is not to be confused with the Great White Throne Judgment for unbelievers.

 

2 Corinthians 5:10 -  For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things [done] in [his] body, according to that he hath done, whether [it be] good or bad.

 

1 Corinthians 4:5 - Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.

 

It's encouraging that God will have something to say in praise for each of us.

 

The word used for rewards in scriptures is "crown" or "crowns".

Crowns are symbolic of royalty.

Saints are to reign with Christ.

 

Crowns are referred to in at least 5 different ways in the Scriptures.

 

1. THE CROWN OF LIFE

 

This crown is mentioned twice in the Scriptures.

 

James 1:12 - Blessed [is] the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

 

The context of James 1:1-12 is trials.

The man or woman who successfully endures patiently is promised the Crown of Life.

 

I find it interesting, that when we successfully endure trials we are saying to the Lord Jesus, "I love you."

When we are not faithful in trials, we are saying, "Lord Jesus, I don't love you."

 

Revelation 2:10 - Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast [some] of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.

 

This verse was written to the church that was under persecution. And the bottom line is - Whether it be a person or a group of people, the ones who successfully endure will be rewarded with the crown of life.

 

2. THE INCORRUPTIBLE CROWN

 

1 Corinthians 9:24-27  - Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.

JOSHUA 15:13-19 - Page 8

 

And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they [do it] to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: But I keep under my body, and bring [it] into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

 

When an athlete wins a crown or reward it is perishable. It is temporary. We are striving for a crown that does not perish.

But like with the athlete, it requires discipline to gain the incorruptible crown.

 

We must be temperate.

We must keep our bodies in subjection.

We must work hard to be under control.

 

John Mac Arthur - "...No Christian will be successful in witnessing or in anything else worthwhile, without discipline. Every good thing we accomplish - whether in learning, business, artistic skill, marriage, spiritual living, witnessing, or whatever - is accomplished through discipline, and self-control."

 

3. THE SOUL WINNERS' CROWN

 

1 Thessalonians 2:19-20 - or what [is] our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? [Are] not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming? For ye are our glory and joy.

 

Those we have won to Christ will be our "Joy and crown."

It as if we will be able to say "Here am I Lord, and this is who I've brought to Heaven with me."

 

May there be at least one with each of us.

And of course, we do not know all the influence we have had.

I think we will have some surprises.

Every once in a while a Christian will find that he or she has been instrumental in bringing someone to Christ, when they did not even realize it.

 

4. THE CROWN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS

 

This crown is for those who love His appearing.

 

2 Timothy 4:6-8 - For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished [my] course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

 

Vs. 7 - To fight a good fight is to fight an intelligent fight.

           It is to fight a hard fight.

           It is to fight a consistent fight.

 

To finish the course is to complete all that God has for me to do.

I have seen Christians decide when that they were more or less finished for God when in their "50's".

I have seen other Christians in their late 70's and 80's still plugging away - Keeping the faith

                       Maintaining the stand.

                       Staying with the commitment to sound                                                                                                          

                       doctrine.

 

When we do this we say by our actions that we love the Lord Jesus Christ's appearing, and we want His "Well done," the crown of righteousness, when He returns.

 

"A railroad engineer by the name of Bernie Locke recalled that one time he was 25 minutes late on a run out of Scranton, Pennsyvania. As always, he had prayed for safety and then added, "Lord, help me bring her in on time."

 

He said, "On this particular day I couldn't gain a second on the stiff climb up the Pocono Mountains, but once over the summit, we almost flew down the other side. I just held her steady and let her go. At last the old station at Hoboken loomed ahead. As we pulled alongside, I looked at my watch and we were right on the dot. I sat wiping the sweat off my fact when I heard the tap of a cane on the outside of the cab.

 

Looking out, I saw the president of the railroad standing there, all smiles.  He said to me, "A GOOD RUN SIR! A VERY GOOD RUN!"  That meant more to me than anything in this world." the godly engineer continued, "WHEN I MAKE LIFE'S LAST RUN AND PULL INTO THE GREAT TERMINAL, I HOPE I'LL HEAR CHRIST SAY, "A GOOD RUN, SIR! A VERY GOOD RUN!"

Source Unknown

 

5. THE CROWN OF GLORY

 

1 Peter 5:1-4 - The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight [thereof], not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; Neither as being lords over [God's] heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.

 

The faithful church leader who does as this passage prescribes will receive the reward of an unfading crown of glory.

So, what will we do with these crowns?

 

Revelation 4:4 - And round about the throne [were] four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold.

 

Revelation 4:10-11 - The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

 

We will be able to lay the crowns down at the feet of Jesus.

I personally don't want to be empty handed.

 

GOD'S INCENTIVE PLAN INVOLVES OTHERS

GOD'S INCENTIVE PLAN INCLUDES REWARDS

GOD'S INCENTIVE PLAN INSPIRES PRAYER

 

Vs. 18-19 - Othniel is encouraged by his wife to ask Caleb for a field .  And then, she is secure enough to ask of a loving father springs which would water that field.

 

He gave her more than she asked for - upper and lower springs.

 

Our Heavenly Father is like that.

He includes us in His work.

He includes rewards in the progress.

And then, He empowers us to get the job done by answering our prayers.

 

Matthew 7:7-11