The question of heavenly rewards and varying levels of eternal recognition touches deeply on God’s character of grace, hope, and mercy. While many churches today focus primarily on salvation, they may overlook Jesus’ teachings about storing up treasures in heaven and the rewards He promises to bring upon His return. This oversight can leave believers unclear about the relationship between their earthly dedication of taking up their cross daily and eternal rewards.

While the scriptures indicate that some believers will “escape through the flames” with nothing to show for their life of faith, it’s crucial to understand that God’s Kingdom offers ongoing opportunities for service and reward, even in the Millennial reign of the Messiah. This truth provides hope, especially for those whose loved ones came to faith late in life. Let’s take a closer look at this crucial topic from a biblical perspective.

Biblical Insight

The Bible provides several key passages that illuminate this topic. In 1 Corinthians 3:12-15, Paul uses the metaphor of building materials to describe different qualities of Christian service: “If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, their 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 person’s work.”

Jesus Himself emphasized the eternal perspective in Matthew 6:19-21, instructing us to store treasures in heaven. The Old Testament prophet Daniel foresaw believers ruling and teaching righteousness during the Millennial Kingdom in Daniel 7:27 and Daniel 12:3. This shows that opportunities for service and reward continue in God’s future Kingdom.

Significantly, Jesus declared in Matthew 11:11 that “the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than John the Baptist,” whom He had just called the greatest born among women. This profound statement reveals that even those who barely enter heaven possess a surpassing glory and blessing that exceeds the greatest Old and New Testament saints whilst still in their pre-glory bodies.

And finally we see examples of varying levels of faithfulness and reward throughout Scripture. Standout examples include Moses who chose eternal reward over temporary pleasure (Hebrews 11:24-26), David served God’s purpose in his generation (Acts 13:36), and Paul pressed toward the prize (Philippians 3:14).

Practical Wisdom

Understanding heavenly rewards should motivate us to live with eternal perspective. Every act of service, every choice for holiness, and every sacrifice for the Kingdom has eternal significance. This isn’t about earning salvation – that’s secured through faith in Jesus’ finished work on the cross. Rather, it’s about how we steward the grace we’ve received.

The Holy Spirit plays a crucial role in this process, empowering and guiding us to build lasting eternal rewards. He helps us discern between actions that constitute “gold, silver, and precious stones” (like sacrificial love, faithful prayer, discipleship, and sharing the gospel) versus “wood, hay, and stubble” (self-serving actions, ministry done for show, or works without faith).

Consider practical examples: A quiet prayer warrior the world never hears about, but whose intercession impacts nations is building with gold. A faithful parent discipling their children in God’s ways is laying precious stones. A business person conducting their work with integrity and using resources for God’s Kingdom is storing up silver. These everyday actions, when done in faith and love, have eternal significance.

Clearing up misunderstandings

One common misconception is that discussing heavenly rewards promotes a works-based salvation. However, salvation is entirely by grace through faith, as clearly stated in Ephesians 2:8-9. Rewards are about what we do with that salvation – how faithfully we serve the Lord after being saved.

Another misunderstanding is thinking that those who enter heaven with few rewards will forever remain in a lesser position. This overlooks the wonderful truth about the Millennial Kingdom and the New Heavens and Earth, where Scripture indicates continued opportunities for service, growth, and reward. God’s character of grace and mercy suggests that all His children will have ongoing opportunities to bring Him glory and receive His recognition.

Lastly, some believe that pursuing heavenly rewards is somehow selfish. Yet God Himself established this system of rewards as motivation for faithfulness. Even Moses was commended for looking forward to his reward (Hebrews 11:26).

Conclusion

The biblical teaching on heavenly rewards should fill us with hope and motivation, not anxiety. Whether someone has served God faithfully for decades or came to faith on their deathbed, they enter into surpassing glory as citizens of God’s Kingdom. The Millennial reign of the Messiah offers continued opportunities for service and reward, reflecting God’s heart of grace and hope. By keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus and remaining sensitive to the Holy Spirit’s guidance, we can build lasting treasures both now and in the age to come.

Did you know?

In ancient Jewish writings, the concept of varying rewards in the World to Come was well-established. The term “Olam Ha-Ba” (the World to Come) was understood to have different levels of reward based on one’s service to God. The ancient rabbis used the analogy of different sized vessels all being full to illustrate how each person would be completely satisfied with their reward, even though the quantities might differ. This parallels with Jesus’ teaching about various rewards while maintaining that all in heaven will experience complete joy.

Furthermore, the Greek word “stephanos” used for the crowns of reward in the New Testament was the same word used for the victory wreaths given to winners in the ancient Olympic games. Unlike the “diadema” (royal crown), the stephanos was a reward for victory and achievement, emphasizing the personal nature of heavenly rewards.