Who do you think you are?
The mocker: You are not theologically trained and neither are you of any standing in a church. What do you have to show to substantiate your authenticity and credibility? How many souls have you saved? Do you have a large following? Have people received miracles by hearing what you are saying of Jesus? Who do you think you are to be going around talking about Jesus?
Why are you assuming the position of the accrediting authority? ?God looks at the heart (1 Samuel 16:7). Our labor in the Lord, whatever it might be, is not meaningless or worthless because God gives it meaning and worth (1 Corinthians 15:58).
There is only one Savior of souls. His Name is Jesus (Acts 4:12, NKJV). The Lord works through people to bring lost souls to Him. When a person receives Jesus as personal Savior, it is a result of the Lord Jesus having planted the seed of faith in that person through someone years ago. Through the passage of time, the Lord watered that seed that He first planted through more people until the seed sprouts. ?
As the apostle Paul said in 1 Corinthians 3:6-9 (NKJV),
“I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase. Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor. For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building”
Jesus is the Author and Finisher of faith (Hebrews 12:2, NKJV). All glory and praise redound to Him and Him alone. No one can claim credit for the salvation of souls because there is only one Savior.
Every believer is an ambassador for Christ (2 Corinthians 5:20, NKJV). The Holy Spirit works through believers but it will not be without opposition. As stated in 2 Corinthians 4:4 (NKJV),
“whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.”
Sadly, the greatest opposition may come from within the house of God; fellow believers. How ironic! This “in-fighting” is seen in how believers jostle for position of honor and greatness. It is like what Jesus’ disciples did as recorded in Luke 22:24 (NKJV),
“Now there was also a dispute among them, as to which of them should be considered the greatest.”
One believer may not like what another is doing. Peter felt something similar about John. As recorded in John 21:21-22 (NKJV),
“Peter, seeing him, said to Jesus, “But Lord, what about this man?”
Jesus said to him, “…You follow Me.”
?We fix our eyes on Jesus and Him alone. Redeem the time for the days are evil (Ephesians 5:16, NKJV). Enough of the mindless pursuits of perishable things. It is about time to store up treasures in heaven (Matthew 16:19-20, NKJV). Jesus is returning soon and His reward is with Him to give to every one according to his work (Revelation 22:12).
The mocker: So you are doing all that Jesus stuff for rewards lah! Hypocritical!
God is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him (Hebrew 11:6, NKJV). Jesus Himself said in Luke 12:29-32 (NKJV),
“And do not seek what you should eat or what you should drink, nor have an anxious mind. For all these things the nations of the world seek after, and your Father knows that you need these things. But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you. Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.”
The Lord Jesus also said in Mark 10:29-30 (NKJV),
“Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel’s, who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time—houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions—and in the age to come, eternal life.”
The expectation of rewards was given by God Himself. You settle your grievance over it with Him yourself.