The Bible has much to say on the subject of rewards. This is a major doctrine. It starts in the first book in the Bible and runs through to the last book. If you have never looked at this subject, you will be shocked at how much space is given to this doctrine. You will see I am not trying to squeeze a meaning out of one or two verses in one book. There are many verses, in many of the books, and I will even let the Word's of Jesus get us started in this little study. Mat 6:19,20 (NRSV) ”Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal;” “But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven... Have you ever been on a treasure hunt? God has an adventure for us.
There are those who have ALL their rewards in this life. And that is fine for now, but the Bible teaches us that our physical life is passing very fast, in fact our physical life is referred to as a vapor. Like a mere puff of smoke. The tragedy is when a person sacrifices the eternal rewards (that will never pass away) for the immediate rewards of this life, which are only for the moment. And I am sad to say, even Christians are missing the big picture by the thousands.
(Gen 15:1 NIV) After this, the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision: "Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward." (When the LORD is your very great reward, you have a GREAT reward in deed. It didn't take God long to introduce this doctrine.)
(Psa 17:14 A NIV) O LORD, by your hand save me from such men, from men of this world whose reward is in this life. (When a person believes that all their rewards can only be experienced in this life, and there are no rewards that will fallow; that person is dangerous, and without hope.)
(Psa 62:12 NIV) and that you, O Lord, are loving. Surely you will reward each person according to what he has done.
(Eccl 9:5 NIV) For the living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing; they have no further reward, and even the memory of them is forgotten. Now, is our opportunity for earning eternal rewards.)
(Isa 49:4 NIV) But I said, "I have labored to no purpose; I have spent my strength in vain and for nothing. Yet what is due me is in the Lord's hand, and my reward is with my God." (What is Isaiah teaching us in this verse? Do you get the sense that Isaiah is getting weary of well doing, and is being tempted to faint, but then he remembers the doctrine of rewards, and is greatly encouraged?)
(Isa 62:11 NIV) The LORD has made proclamation to the ends of the earth: "Say to the Daughter of Zion, 'See, your Savior comes! See, his reward is with him, and his recompense accompanies him.'"
(Jer 17:10 NIV) "I the LORD search the heart and examine the mind, to reward a man according to his conduct, according to what his deeds deserve."
(Jer 32:19 NIV) great are your purposes and mighty are your deeds. Your eyes are open to all the ways of men; you reward everyone according to his conduct and as his deeds deserve. (Have you ever envied the wicked for what they have, and for what they seem to be able to get away with? The person who wrote Psalm 73 did, until he saw their end. The arrogant are the unsaved, they only have one reward. And do not envy them for that reward. Psa 73:3 (NRSV) For I was envious of the arrogant; I saw the prosperity of the wicked. Psa 73:17 (NRSV) Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then I perceived their end. Verse 73:18 Truly you set them in slippery places; you make them fall to ruin. Vs 73:19 How they are destroyed in a moment, swept away utterly by terrors!)
(Mat 5:12 NIV) Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. (If we suffer with Christ, we will reign with Him. 2 Tim 2:12)
Our attitude in giving, helping, praying, etc, has everything to do with rewards. Do we do good deeds out of a heart of love, led by the Spirit, or do we act out of a need to be noticed? Do we glorify God, or ourselves? The Lord addresses this issue in the next four verses.
Mat 6:2 (NIV) So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.
Mat 6:4,5,6 (NIV) So that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
(Mat 10:41 NIV) Anyone who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet's reward, and anyone who receives a righteous man because he is a righteous man will receive a righteous man's reward. (This is MLM at its very best.) [All in Christ are righteous.]
(Mat 10:42 NIV) And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward." (The Lord Jesus Christ is encouraging us in this doctrine. How hard is it to give a cup of cold water? We don't have to be a Billy Graham, to qualify for eternal rewards. That's what makes this doctrine so exciting. A Christian can start earning eternal rewards the day he/she is saved. Get excited and start sharing you faith.)
(Mat 16:27 NIV) For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father's glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done. (This sounds like Isa. 62:11 above)
1 Cor 3:13 (NIV) His work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man’s work. 1 Cor 3:14 If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. 1 Cor 3:15 If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames. (Please take note of these three verses. If the quality of a Christian’s works amounts to no more than wood, hay, or stubble, the fire test will burn them up. The Christian will be saved. They will loose rewards, but they are in heaven. If our works aren’t gold, silver, and precious stones, they aren’t of any value. Our life should Glorify God, Magnify Christ, and Build up the Body (Christians). I want to receive a mountain of rewards if by grace through faith, I can do anything to encourage, or help a brother/sister in the lord, or glorify God in anyway, I want to do that. This doctrine goes so deep. Let me ask you this question. If you knew it would bless the heart of God to be able to give you rewards, would you not also desire a mountain of rewards, for His sake? Think about that.)
(Eph 6:8 NIV) because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free. (The key words in this verse are, “for whatever”. The smallest of good deeds done with the right motive, will be rewarded.)
(Heb 11:26 NIV) He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward. (This verse is speaking of Moses, but are we looking ahead to our reward.)
(Rev 22:12 NIV) "Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done.
Salvation is a free gift, but rewards are earned. The quality of our service is the criterion for rewards. Rewards are often spoken of as crowns (1 Cor. 9:25, 1 Thess. 2:19; 2 Tim. 4:8; James 1:12; 1 Peter 5:4; Rev. 2:10; 3:11; 4:4,10).
(1 Cor 9:25 NIV) Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. (Rewards, and crowns are forever. You might want to consider some for your retirement portfolio, they are a GOOD investment.)
1 Th 2:19 (KJV) “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?”
(2 Tim 4:8 NIV) Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day--and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.
(James 1:12 NIV) Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.
(1 Pet 5:4 NIV) And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.
(Rev 2:10 NIV) Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life. (There is another aspect to rewards, I must say a few words about. Look with me at 1 Pet 1:7 (KJV) “That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:” ( Trials that test our faith, when passed, gain us rewards in the form of the crown of life. I won’t get into the meaning of the different crowns, suffice to say, they are rewards. And anyone who receives one will wear it with humility, and joy.)
(Rev 3:11 NIV) I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown. (Do not be discouraged, keep trusting in God. You will be glad you did.)
(Rev 4:10 NIV) the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne, and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne: (Our crowns will glorify Christ Jesus. They are worth striving for. Press on to the mark of the high calling in Christ Jesus.)
Ephesians 2:10 (NIV) For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. (God has actually prepared good works for us to do? And yet those good works don’t save us. In fact, God has only prepared good works for his children, [created in Christ Jesus] and He has not prepared anything but condemnation [hell] for those who have rejected [with their free will] God’s Christ. By not saying yes to the gift God has offered everyone, they have said “No” to God’s love, mercy, grace, forgiveness, eternal life etc.
Keep in mind that the time we spend in life is as nothing. All our days in these earthly bodies can be compared to a gnat in the universe. With the gnat representing our entire life from birth to the grave, and the universe represents eternity. Now, consider again Jesus’ words, “ Store up for yourself treasures in heaven.” God is preparing us for eternal life. Has anyone ever told you to make something of you life? Well, God wants to do just that for us.
It is God’s desire we grow(mature) [2 Pet 3:18], and be conformed to the image of Jesus Christ ,[Rom 8:29] in whom the Father was well pleased. The fruit of the Spirit (Gal.5:22,23) as well as being filled with the Spirit (Eph.5:18) are all part of the same thought. And rewards come when we allow God to mature us.)
Romans 8:29 (KJV) For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
2 Peter 3:18 (KJV) But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen. (Will every Christian choose to grow? Does every Christian take up their cross daily and fallow after Christ? Does every Christian choose the straight and narrow way or to be a disciple? If a person doesn’t go to grade school, and high school, their growth as a person is seriously effected. If they are more interested in friends, [so called] popularity, having a party [drinking, and drugs] etc., their life will reveille it. Like wise, if Church isn’t a part of a Christian’s life, eternity will reveille how much they have missed.
We have to choose to grow. Going to a church that teaches and preaches from the Word of God, is where maturing will take place...iron sharpens iron. We have to make the extra effort. Education, and growing, being conformed to the image of Christ, learning to walk in the Spirit, etc., are all a process. The question is, are you willing let God?
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Contributor's Note
The doctrine of rewards is meant to encourage the believer. When you get hold of this doctrine and it becomes part of your thinking, you will feel like you have grabbed a tiger by its tail. You will not want to let go. It will pull you in ways you might never have chosen to go before. When you understand this truth, it will lift you up and give you hope beyond anything you ever experienced.
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