Synopsis
A review of my rewards programs
- Josh & John's Ice Cream: Burn 🔥
- Panera Bread: Steal 📚
- Firehouse Subs: Burn 🔥
- Rampart Liquors: Steal 📚
- Tokyo Joe's: Burn 🔥
- Captain D's: Burn 🔥
- 7-Eleven: Steal 📚
- Rita's Italian Ice: Steal 📚
- King Soopers: Steal 📚
- Maverick: Steal 📚
A Bible Study on Rewards In Heaven
Introduction
By Paul Anderson
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| photo by Paul Anderson, 6/26/24 |
1. Maverick - Steal 📚
Maverick's freebie Friday is the best feature of this rewards program and puts them on the top of my list. Every Friday, you get a free item from their store, usually a drink or candy. It is a nice way to try out some products you would have never thought of purchasing. However, it doesn't stop there. You can earn points from purchases to earn discounts on gas and more free food. I received a bunch of points when I joined and quickly earned enough to get a free bakery item. I tried the Reese's Peanut Butter Cup Cookie! This is a peanut butter cookie with an actual peanut butter cup baked on top. Pure genius.
2. King Soopers - Steal 📚
Coming in at the number two spot is the King Soopers' rewards program. I originally joined to get the discounts on gas. However, when you lose 130 pounds the food budget drops off quite a bit. So, the gas discounts aren't as good anymore, especially since I can find gas stations with lower prices than King Soopers with the discount. Of course, the customized coupons make up for the loss of benefit from the gas discounts. Each month, you let them track your purchases, and they give you a free item you usually buy and some more discounts on your favorite foods.
3. Panera Bread - Steal 📚
Panera was one of the original rewards programs I joined years ago when the chess club met there on a regular basis. They gave me a card that I could swipe at the counter to track my purchases, and I used it regularly until 2014 when Shirley Herman got us banned from running chess events there. However, you can add your phone number to the account to get credit that way too. This is a nice feature when someone else wants to give you credit for their purchase. Besides earning free or discounted food, you get a free bakery treat on your birthday. So, once a year, I get the Kitchen Sink cookie! It is a lot of calories (820 cal) on which I can indulge only once a year.
4. Rita's Italian Ice - Steal 📚
Their free small Italian ice coupon got me in the door, and when I gave up on Josh & John's Ice Cream, Rita's seemed like an ideal choice to fill the spot for my Tuesday Treat. This rewards program is on their app, which you can have them scan at the counter. So far, no problems.
5. 7-Eleven - Steal 📚
This rewards program could have been the easiest to join as I just gave them my phone number at the counter to get a discount. However, I later downloaded the app to track my points and get some free items. The rewards are coming pretty slow, as I don't frequent this store often. They are possibly the closest Rewarder to my house. So, maybe I will hit that coveted 1000 points (I am at 934) some time in the winter when I need steps and a hot chocolate.
6. Rampart Liquors - Steal 📚
This rewards program rivals 7-Eleven as the closest Rewarder to my house. However, it is a local liquor store, and the program is pretty basic. I grab a business card from their counter and collect punches after each purchase. After 5 visits, I earn 10% off. The problem is that I don't really buy a lot of alcohol. So, my 10% off only amounts to 10 cents since I am just buying the $1 shot as a motivator to get steps.
7. Tokyo Joe's - Burn 🔥
This rewards program was like Panera, with the swipe card. However, it seems to be going downhill. The discounts are less frequent. However, I did get a free entree on my half birthday, which is a nice change of pace so that it doesn't conflict with the Kitchen Sink from Panera. Although, you do have to pay close attention at the counter, as the local store doesn't always get the reward from corporate. It helps to have the app so that you can show the local store what you have earned. Sometimes they will honor the reward. Sometimes they won't.
8. Firehouse Subs: Burn 🔥
This one started as a free birthday sub. It was like going to Denny's on your birthday, but instead of a free Grand Slam breakfast, I would get a meatball sub. Of course, I had to go to Firehouse Subs as Earle Wikle shut down all the Denny's in Colorado Springs with his backroom chess tournaments. Then they changed to a rewards program using your phone number like 7-Eleven did, but you could still get the free birthday sub. However, the program is all app based now and the free birthday sub is gone. The point system is crazy, as it takes 4000 points to get a brownie here compared to 1000 points for 7-Eleven. Plus, the points expire here. I have 2552 points set to expire on December 11th and nothing that they will purchase. If only I could transfer these points to 7-Eleven, I could get 2 brownies there.
9. Josh & John's Ice Cream - Burn 🔥
This was the original rewards program that I joined in Colorado Springs. It featured a punch card that gave you more punches the colder the weather was. And, if it was snowing, you could rack up the punches. After 15 punches, you earned a free regular scoop. However, the punch card was replaced by an online system, and I created my online account at home on the computer. Initially, you could tell the counter person your email address and they would credit your account. Some employees expected you to scan the QR code and use the app only. Finally, I downloaded the app but still had problems as it always wanted the password to open and most employees could look up my email address quicker than I could find the password.
10. Captain D's - Burn 🔥
When I had trouble with Tokyo Joe's rewards program, I switched my Seafood Sunday habit to Captain D's. Their rewards program is through their app and more restrictive than any other program I have used. You have to order through the app. You cannot order at the counter and get rewards points. Unfortunately, the app does not offer a dine-in option, only delivery and carry out. Plus, their "free" rewards charge you tax.
Since the different rewards programs were having an effect on my behavior, I thought I would see what kind of rewards God was offering in his program.
Here are my top 12 verses on Rewards In Heaven:
Jesus On Rewards
Luke 6:22-23 King James Version
22 Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake.
23 Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.
Rewards In The New Testament
1 Corinthians 3:11-15 King James Version
11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;
13 Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.
14 If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
15 If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
Rewards In The Old Testament
Genesis 15:1 King James Version
1 After these things the word of the Lord came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.
Proverbs 24:20 King James Version
20 For there shall be no reward to the evil man; the candle of the wicked shall be put out.
Hosea 2:11-12 King James Version
11 I will also cause all her mirth to cease, her feast days, her new moons, and her sabbaths, and all her solemn feasts.
12 And I will destroy her vines and her fig trees, whereof she hath said, These are my rewards that my lovers have given me: and I will make them a forest, and the beasts of the field shall eat them.
Ruler
Matthew 25:21 King James Version
21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
Incorruptible Crown
1 Corinthians 9:25-27 King James Version
25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.
26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:
27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.
Crown of Rejoicing
1 Thessalonians 2:19 King James Version
19 For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?
Crown of Righteousness
2 Timothy 4:8 King James Version
8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.
Crown of Life
James 1:12 King James Version
12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.
Crown of Glory
1 Peter 5:2-4 King James Version
2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;
3 Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being examples to the flock.
4 And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.
Food
Revelation 2:7 King James Version
7 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.
Conclusion Of The Whole Matter
The word "reward" occurs 103 times in the Bible and appears to be spread out equally throughout the Old and New Testament. So, God's reward program is clearly the original and has not gone away. There is no cost to join, no card to carry, no missed punches, no app to download, no tax on your rewards, and the points are eternal. You can earn a lot of points from persecution (Luke 6:22-23) but also from quality work (1 Corinthians 3:11-15). However, beware! There are no rewards for the evil man (Proverbs 24:20) and the rewards can be taken away from the idolatrous (Hosea 2:11-12).
The benefits are the best. Genesis 15:1, reminds us that God is the greatest reward. However, the other perks aren't bad either. Jesus will put the good and faithful servant in charge of many things. And the New Testament writers highlight five crowns that can be rewarded to those who show self-control, those who convert others to Christ, those who love His appearing, those who endure temptation, and those who are an example to Christians.
However, the best perk has to be the food rewards (Revelation 2:7). What exactly is on the tree of life is not clear, but I am guessing it is the Reese's Peanut Butter Cup Cookie!
Research
103 Bible results for “reward” from King James Version.
- Old Testament (67)
- Genesis (2)
- Numbers (2)
- Deuteronomy (3)
- Ruth (1)
- 1 Samuel (2)
- 2 Samuel (4)
- 1 Kings (1)
- 2 Chronicles (2)
- Job (3)
- Psalm (17)
- Proverbs (8)
- Ecclesiastes (2)
- Isaiah (9)
- Jeremiah (2)
- Ezekiel (1)
- Daniel (2)
- Hosea (3)
- Obadiah (1)
- Micah (2)
- New Testament (36)
- Matthew (12)
- Mark (1)
- Luke (3)
- Acts (1)
- Romans (1)
- 1 Corinthians (4)
- Colossians (2)
- 1 Timothy (1)
- 2 Timothy (1)
- Hebrews (4)
- 2 Peter (1)
- 2 John (1)
- Jude (1)
- Revelation (3)
Scripture contributions for June 2024 by: Paul Anderson, Matthew Anderson
