During the Covid outbreak, some part of Nigeria was declared to be on lockdown. Businesses were locked up. Movements were restricted. Churches were closed. Everyone was ordered to stay closed.

During the lockdown, in order to support the citizens and keep them strong, the government began to send food items to these starving homes.

The food items were known as Palliatives. They weren’t much, but they were enough to sustain the families until the pandemic was over in Nigeria.

These Palliatives were simply basic requirements for survival during the pandemic.

In 1 Peter 2:11, we are called strangers and pilgrims in this world. We belong to a better world. We are citizens of heaven, even while we journey here on Earth.

We are here to serve God, fulfill His Counsel for mankind, and draw more people to Him.

Nevertheless, God has not and will never leave us stranded. Even though we are pilgrims on a journey to eternity, we are not left to fend for ourselves here.

2 Peter 1:3: “According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue”

As you serve God here on Earth, He’ll definitely provide financial breakthroughs for you, but you mustn’t be complacent when they start coming.

You must realize that these things are like Palliatives. They’re temporal and not lasting. They are only meant to keep our body strong as we do God’s work here on Earth.

The cars aren’t the rewards for serving God, neither are the houses or abundance of currency. These things might be given unto you in large measure. But in some cases, God chooses to give them in measures likened to the droplets of the drizzling rain.

Hence, the Saint must decide that whether he amasses great wealth here on Earth, or earns only little for sustenance of himself and his family, his eyes will remain fixed on the Eternal reward.

The Palliatives here are only temporal. They are corruptible and perishing. A brand new car bought today would cause a lot of celebration and Thanksgiving. It will be valued and treasured like gold.

But there is no doubt, that within five years from now, that car will lose its value. It will begin to rust, having sufferered severely from the potholes in the roads, the collusion with other cars and dealings from the mechanic.

The same can be said for every material gift.

Woe unto the one who serves God for material gain. You will be the most miserable of all saints.

Work for that reward which is eternal. Labor for the kingdom as much as you can, that on the last day, you shall receive a crown of glory decorated with several glittering stars.

1 Timothy 6:17: ‘Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God….’

Let not the rich trust in their riches. But let the rich and the poor trust in God.

Let them serve with all diligence. Whether you are in the choir, or in the Evangelism unit, or in the pastoral department, or in a secular engagement, labor for the kingdom.

Use every opportunity you have to work for the kingdom. Because God takes record of every single thing you do for Him. For every sweat that trickles down your face, for every tear you shed, every cent you spend, every sound you make, every loss you incur, for the promotion of God’s kingdom, there is a huge reward for it.

Set your eyes upon it. The day of the Lord is coming. The day when He will reward all of us justly.

Will your labor be worth rewarding?