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Topic: Reward (09/27/04)
TITLE: WHY DO WE DO WHAT WE DO? By Anthony David 10/04/04 |
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He was ready and fully dressed as the shrill whistle of the Drill Master pierced the still silence of the dawn. Finishing his drill and breakfast he attended all the classes. In every class, you could find him deeply engrossed in listening carefully and asking pertinent questions. His teachers were very happy with Reuben.
Dinesh and Reuben played table tennis together for the hour or so of the games time. Again, it was the supervised study period. Reuben sat in his favorite chair in the study room slowly rocking in it as he reviewed. He went through the colorful and stimulating notes, he had made so painstakingly for his every lesson.
“You are working so hard Reuben. You make me feel ashamed of myself,” exclaimed Dinesh. “Well, Dinesh,” replied Reuben, “there’s something I am looking forward to, at the end of this race. That’s why I am working so hard.”
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The hectic days of examinations over, Reuben and his friends dispersed home from their residential college. They had come from cities and villages all over the state. All of them enjoyed their hard earned rest and were looking forward eagerly to their results.
One fine morning the telephone rang shrilly in Reuben’s home. As he lifted the receiver, Reuben heard the excited voice of his friend, Dinesh. “Congratulations! Reuben. Haven’t you heard yet? You have got the Ist rank in our State in the exam. Really Reuben, your hard work has brought you the reward you deserved. Don’t forget, you have to give us all a treat!”
Reuben was exhilarated. “Mummy, Mummy,” he yelled, “It seems that I have topped the State in my exam.” His mother gave him a warm hug. “It is God’s blessings and your hard work, Reuben.” She said as they knelt down immediately to pray.
A few days later, the State governor gave the certificates to the rankers. The next day’s papers were full of photographs and excerpts from interviews. “State topper credits God and hard work” ran one headline.
Dinesh was also happy in his own way. He got a little over 80% in the exam. He met Reuben later and they sat discussing their results. “ I am sure you too would have got a rank if only you tried to Dinesh.” Said Reuben. “All that made me study was a fear that I might fail,” confessed Dinesh, “But all the time I saw you slogging so hard.”
“Do you know why we got such results?” explained Reuben, “ It is simple. It is our motivation that matters. Motivation is what makes us do what we do. Mine was the dream of becoming a ranker. Yours was to avoid punishment: the dread of failure.”
“You are very right Reuben, we both got what we deserved.” Accepted Dinesh.
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Our rewards on earth perish sooner or later. It is the eternal rewards that matter. What we do for the Lord will last, till we reach the Celestial city. May we do what we do with a dream in our heart, a dream focused on the crowns and commendations that the Lord will bestow upon us, at the Great White Throne Judgment, the Bema.
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© 2004: Dr.M.A David S Kumar.