Most people judge by a person’s exterior. God is more impressed by the unseen.

Samuel received a gentle rebuke from God when he was trying to discover which of Jesse’s sons he should anoint as king: “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7).

People might be impressed by actions, but God is far more interested in what goes on behind them. We read, “The Lord is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed” (1 Samuel 2:3) and, “All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the spirit” (Proverbs 16:2). 

God is interested in your motivation 

When you’ve come to the end of your life, you’ll receive an appraisal based not so much on your achievements as your motivation. God is looking for more than success. He’s interested in the secret motivation of his individual servants: “Each one’s work will become manifest…because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire” (1 Corinthians 3:13–15). 

You can have a great career, you can bask in the praise of men, but nothing will ever compare with the “Well done” that comes from God.

The emphasis of this passage is on reward for ministry. It concerns things left standing after God has searched your motivation. Some will suffer loss, while others will be rewarded. For all of us, there will inevitably be a “chapter four” – when the crowds have gone, with no one around to be impressed by externals, when it’s just God and you; and he’ll look right into your heart. 

Well done 

You can have a great career, you can bask in the praise of men, but nothing will ever compare with the “Well done” that comes from God. Imagine being praised by God! That prospect must be one of the most exciting in the entire universe! Surely it is your highest desire: to live to please God and, at the end, to hear his words, “Well done, good and faithful servant … Enter into the joy of your master” (Matthew 25:21). 

I have had some exciting days. I remember the day I was saved. I remember the day I got married and the days when our children were born. I remember tremendous, exciting days in my life, days to treasure. But there will never, ever be a day to compare with the day when I hear God say, “Well done.”

The final curtain call

When the curtain rises for the last time, there will be a great turning around. Jesus said,  “So the last will be first, and the first last” (Matthew 20:16). The people who wanted and received their acclamation from men will be disappointed when they meet God; those whose hearts were truly seeking after righteousness will be rewarded.