The Reward Cannot Be the Motivation
"…that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel." — 1 Samuel 17:46
---
Introduction
There is a tension in this chapter that many preachers prefer to gloss over — and I want to bring it into the light, because that is exactly where the lesson lives.
When David arrives at the camp, one of his first questions is about money: "What will be done for the man who kills this Philistine?" (v. 26). He asks, and then turns around and asks again with other soldiers (v. 30).
But when David finally stands before the giant, sling in hand, what comes out of his mouth is not a word about wealth, or about the king's daughter, or about tax exemption. What comes out is: "that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel."
Something happened between verse 26 and verse 46.
---
1. God Does Not Condemn the Reward
Let's begin with what Scripture actually says. The Bible is not hostile to the idea of reward. God is "a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him" (Hebrews 11:6). Jesus spoke repeatedly about treasures in heaven. Paul ran to obtain the prize.
David asking about the reward was not a sin. It was a public promise made by the king, and it was perfectly legitimate to inquire about it.
The problem is never the existence of the reward. The problem is when the reward shifts from being a consequence to being a motivation.
---
2. The Moment of Truth Reveals the Real Motivation
While David was still in the camp, the conversation could revolve around riches. But when he walked down into the valley — alone, with the very real possibility of dying in the next few minutes — that surface-level motivation did not survive.
This is what pressure does: it filters motivations. In comfort, it is easy to say we serve out of love. In crisis, what truly drives us rises to the surface.
If you are serving God for recognition, the day you go unrecognized will reveal it. If you are serving for position, the day that position does not come will reveal it. No wrong motivation survives the valley.
---
3. The Question Every Servant Must Ask
There is a question we ought to ask ourselves with uncomfortable regularity: if no one ever knew it was me, would I still do this?
If your answer hesitates, that is not a reason to walk away from service — it is a reason to go down into the valley with God and let Him purify what needs to be purified.
Notice also the scope of David's motivation. He does not say "so that Israel may know" — he says "that all the earth may know." And he adds: "and all this assembly shall know that the LORD does not save with sword and spear" (v. 47). His concern is with what that battle would teach about God — both inside and outside of God's people.
What we do should leave people talking about God — not about us.
---
Conclusion
David did receive the reward. He received wealth, he married the king's daughter, and later he received the throne.
But notice the order: he received all of it after he had already decided that was not why he was there.
Serve for the honor of His name. And leave it to God to take care of what comes after.