Reward, human

Honest reward for services rendered is commended. Even though such reward is often deserved, it is not always given.

Reward for services rendered

Payment for work done

Colossians 4:1 See also Genesis 29:28–29; 2 Samuel 19:32–36; Proverbs 13:13; Matthew 20:1–2, Matthew 25:23; Romans 4:4; 1 Corinthians 9:24–25; 1 Timothy 5:17–18

Masters, supply your slaves with what is right and fair, since you know that you also have a Master in heaven.

Favour for help received

1 Samuel 17:23–25 See also Genesis 41:41–45; Joshua 2:14; Esther 6:1–3, Esther 6:6–10; Daniel 2:46–49

And as he was speaking with them, suddenly the champion named Goliath, the Philistine from Gath, came forward from the ranks of the Philistines and shouted his usual words, which David also heard. When all the men of Israel saw Goliath, they fled from him in great fear. Now the men of Israel had been saying, “Do you see how this man keeps coming out to defy Israel? To the man who kills him the king will give great riches. And he will give him his daughter in marriage and exempt his father’s house from taxation in Israel.”

Unjust treatment and reward

Acts 10:37–39 Genesis 29:22–25, Genesis 39:19–20, Genesis 40:23; Numbers 14:1–4; 1 Samuel 25:21; 2 Samuel 15:1–4; Psalm 41:9, Psalm 55:12–14; Jeremiah 38:4–6; John 13:18

You yourselves know what has happened throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee with the baptism that John proclaimed: how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, because God was with Him. We are witnesses of all that He did, both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem. And although they put Him to death by hanging Him on a tree,

Dishonest reward forbidden

Deuteronomy 16:19 In a fallen world there are many opportunities to gain by wrongdoing. See also Numbers 22:7, Numbers 22:16–17, Numbers 24:11; 1 Kings 13:7–8; 2 Kings 5:20–24; Job 17:5; Isaiah 1:23; Micah 3:11, Micah 7:3; Matthew 26:14–15 parallel Mark 14:10–11; Acts 1:18

Do not deny justice or show partiality. Do not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and twists the words of the righteous.

Rewarding the undeserving

Romans 12:20 See also Genesis 47:11–12; 1 Samuel 12:23, 1 Samuel 24:16–19; Matthew 5:38–41, Matthew 5:44–47

On the contrary, “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink. For in so doing, you will heap burning coals on his head.”