Rewards in Heaven, Part One

I have avoided the topic of rewards as much as possible in my blogs because we love Him for Who He is and not for promised future rewards. Our heartfelt love overflows when we think of His compassion, tenderness, and His willing submission to lay down His life for us on the cruel cross. We need nothing beyond that to desire to serve the Son of Man whom we love with all our hearts.

But lately, the Holy Spirit has put in front of me Scripture after Scripture encouraging Christians that their future includes rewards for using their lives to serve Him. From Genesis through Revelation, we see the Lord rewarding even the smallest thing we do for Him and His Kingdom. He sees all we do, even if others don’t. This truth is declared over and over by prophets, disciples, and even Jesus Himself. Below are 3 of the 7 principles we know about rewards. Next week, we will look at 4 more.

I. Rewards are real, and Jesus is bringing them

Matthew 16:27 says, “For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done.”

And Revelation 22:12 tells us, “Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done.”

II. Keep your acts of sacrifice a secret between the Lord and you, as much as possible.

Rewards come with some caveats, however. First of all, the service to the Lord that is richly rewarded perhaps may never be known to others in your time on earth. Certainly, you yourself should never draw attention to your acts of kindness, charity, and service. Matthew 6 gives explicit instructions on some of the things you should do in secret because “your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”

“Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.

2 “Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

5 “And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 6 But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

7 “And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him…”

16 “And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 17 But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, 18 that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

III. There are no small sacrifices of service to the Lord.

Whether you are the evangelist on the stage calling thousands to repentance or you are the person typing his notes or driving him, Jesus sees your service and there is a reward for you.

· He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor. I Corinthians 3:8

· “I the Lord search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.” Jeremiah 17:10

· Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. Colossians 3:23-24