Ultra-Christianity: Part 13 – Rewards
Now what is the reward for all of this training and sacrifice? Crossing the finish line, of course! It seems that no matter how much suffering and hard work it is to stick to the training plan for the many months and many more miles, it always seems to be worth every bit when you see the finish at a distance and you push forth your last bit of energy and cross that line. Being a distance runner most of my life, it was a great feeling to do just that and finish such an endurance challenge. Being a Christ-follower most of my life, I anticipate crossing the finish line of this earthly life to be even more delightful. I can only image what that will be like. The reward we all should be striving for is when we enter into heaven is hearing God say to us “well done good and faithful servant”.
“"His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.”
– Matt. 25:23
Now what is the reward for all of this training and sacrifice? Crossing the finish line, of course! It seems that no matter how much suffering and hard work it is to stick to the training plan for the many months and many more miles, it always seems to be worth every bit when you see the finish at a distance and you push forth your last bit of energy and cross that line. Being a distance runner most of my life, it was a great feeling to do just that and finish such an endurance challenge. Being a Christ-follower most of my life, I anticipate crossing the finish line of this earthly life to be even more delightful. I can only image what that will be like. The reward we all should be striving for is when we enter into heaven is hearing God say to us “well done good and faithful servant”.
“"His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.”
– Matt. 25:23
“Entering into the joy of your master”, I can’t think of anything more rewarding then this, the joy of my master, Jesus. His joy, I can’t even comprehend it, but I do know that it is a perfect, holy, loving, everlasting, joy. This is a kind of joy that has not and cannot be experienced here on this earth. This earth is a fallen earth; this earth needed a Savior.
On this earth, we have two realities. They are
1) The Cross (Salvation: we are saved or not)
2) The Judgment seat of Christ (Rewards: after saved, there are rewards in Heaven)
Before we discuss more on rewards (#2 above), let’s take a moment to briefly talk about #1, salvation. Salvation is not a reward, but a gift.
The Cross represents salvation. To understand salvation, the following should be understood:
1) all have sinned; sin separates us from God. Rom. 3:23
2) the wages of sin is death. Rom. 6:23, “death is separation from God”
3) there is a judgment Heb. 9:27
Fortunately, God is gracious and mercifully provided a plan for us. Jesus explains it here:
“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.” – John 5:24
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” – John 3:16
And elsewhere, Paul explains:
“…that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved” – Romans 10:9
Through Jesus, we are saved (e.g. salvation), we have eternal life, we will not come into judgment, and we have passed from death to life.
“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” – Eph 2:8,9
While salvation is a gift, the other reality is that there are rewards given for faithfulness in the Christian life. To some, this is a difficult area to understand and accept. But the fact still remains that the Bible promises rewards for us. God gives us salvation. It is a gift through faith, but He also rewards us for good works (e.g. this is a post salvation doctrine). The following verses are some that speak of the giving of such rewards.
“For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and He will reward each according to his works.” Matt. 16:27
“But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” – Heb 11:6
“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.” – 2 Cor. 5:10
“But as for you, be strongand don’tget discouraged,foryour workwill berewarded.” –2 Chron. 15:7
“May the Lordrewardyour efforts! May your acts of kindness be repaidfullybythe LordGodof Israel, from whomyou have soughtprotection!” – Ruth 2:12
“…so thatyourgiftmay be insecret. AndyourFather, who seesinsecret, will rewardyou.“ – Matt. 6:4
“Rejoiceandbe gladbecauseyourrewardis greatinheaven, forthey persecutedthe prophetsbeforeyouin the same way.” – Matt. 5:12
These verses are speaking of ‘Christ’s Judgment Seat’, where only believers will appear. Non-Christians will be judged at the Great White Throne Judgment (Rev. 20:11-15), which is not the judgment seat we are discussing here. Rewards are at times described in Scripture as “crowns”. Here are five crowns found in Scripture:
| Crown | How Obtained | Area of Life | Biblical Ref. |
| Life | Enduring Trials & Temptation | Discipleship | James 1:12 |
| Incorruptible | Self-denial | Discipleship | 1 Cor. 9:25,27 |
| Joy | Soul-winning | Evangelism | 1 Thes. 2:19 |
| Glory | Undershepherd | Disciplemaking | 1 Peter 5:2-4 |
| Righteousness | Looking for the 2nd Coming | 2nd Coming | 2 Tim. 4:8 |
(From “Equipping The Saints”, Book 1A; Dawson, David)
The understanding of rewards as shown to us in the Scriptures is not the same type of earthly rewards that are common in the world’s perspective. Many of us may reason rewards as something that we do not want to seek as personal gain. However humble that may make us feel, it is not Biblical when talking about the rewards promised by God, but rather seeking eternal rewards is Biblical and should be pursued.
Rewards are a reality to the believer. The joy and adulation we may feel when we cross the finish line of an endurance race that we prepared and trained for diligently, will pale in comparison to when we pass into the joy of our master!
“…with this goal in mind, I strive toward the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” – Phil 3:14
Questions on ‘Rewards”
1) How would you describe “the joy of your master”?
2) Discuss the position of “works based salvation” and what the Bible teaches about it.
3) What is the difference between “Christ’s Judgment Seat” described in Rom. 14:10 and 2 Cor 5:10 and “The Great White Throne Judgment” in Rev. 20:11-15.
4) What eternal rewards can you find in Scripture?
5) Why should believers seek eternal rewards?
6) What are you currently doing to seek eternal rewards?
7) How do you know if you will receive rewards?
