Pastor Mark’s sermon this week is “I Am Rewarded,” preached out of Ephesians 6:5–9. In this post, Pastor Matt distinguishes between earthly and heavenly rewards, and what the rewarding will look like.
“He will render to each one according to his works.” Romans 2:6
Some cringe at a discussion of heavenly rewards, as if considering this corrupts our motives for obedience (and sometimes, it can). Yet in Scripture, Jesus specifically points to the joy of our heavenly rewards that will come out of acts of obedience (Matt. 19:29). If God thought it inappropriate for us to look forward to the rewards before us, it seems unlikely he would have inspired so many references to them in his word.
Still, others turn away from discussing heavenly rewards because in our fallen minds, it somehow seems unfair that one of us would receive more from the Lord than another. But in heaven, there will be no limits to the gifts God gives out. In heaven, the increase of joy for one saint won’t limit the gifts God may choose to give another. There won’t be envious thoughts toward those God sovereignly rewards more than another. Instead, Our joy will actually increase as we see God honoring and pouring out his love on another saint and we will rejoice (1 Cor. 12:26)!
Rewards, not earthly
God tells us about our rewards in heaven frequently as a reminder to fix our hope on the life to come. In this life, we will not be appreciated for all that we do, but Jesus sees every act of service done in his name and will reward you (Eph. 6:8; Heb. 6:10). In this life, we will not experience the fullest blessings and rewards of sacrifices made for his kingdom, but Jesus knows every gift of love and will reward you. We are so often tempted to look for our reward or comfort now—but God knows that everything in this life will vanish like a mist in the light of eternity (John 12:25). God’s rewards for you are a hundredfold larger than anything you can imagine in this life, not temporal things of this age that will pass away (Isa. 65:17).
Scripture speaks of rewards frequently to encourage us when we struggle, to reveal more of the love of God for his children, and to give us a glimpse of eternity (John 14:1–4).
God’s rewards are to encourage us
Scripture does not promise the Christian a comfortable life—in fact, it guarantees exactly the opposite to those who would seek after Jesus (2 Tim. 3:12). Families will be divided, friends will abandon us, and our time and money will be surrendered. While we should seek for joy in a life of worshiping Jesus, we will often do so in the face of trial. Yet Scripture tells us that our Father sees every sacrifice we make for his kingdom. As a loving Father, he acknowledges our struggle and lovingly points us to where our true joy and happiness can be found in his Son.
God’s rewards reveal something about his love
God does not need us to accomplish a single purpose he has for his world (Acts 17:25). When God sends you to give water to someone who is thirsty, remember this is the God who made water pour from a rock in the wilderness. God does not need us, but instead chooses to give us with the gift of being part of his work. What is even more incredible is the God who gave us the opportunity to serve, who gave us the means to serve, then rewards us for that service. How gracious and loving a God we serve! Scripture describes the rewards we will receive in heaven in grand terms including crowns (James 1:12) and ruling over kingdoms (Luke 19:17). Some of the language may be figurative but this means that the actual rewards for our works are more lavish than our language can express. These lavish gifts from God are his pouring out love on his children. God’s rewards should never be considered wages—they are gifts of a loving Father to his children.
God’s rewards reveal something about eternity
There will be no unhappy saints in heaven. There will be not a single moment where anyone will not experience incomprehensible joy and peace and love in heaven (Rev. 21:1–8). No desire of a saint in eternity will go unfulfilled. But there will be differing levels of joy. The very concept of a reward implies that some will receive it and others will not. Some Christians today will sacrifice their very lives for the name of Jesus. When they stand before the King, he will reward their sacrifice more bountifully than those who made only minimal gestures of time, talent, or treasure. There will be saints with multiple crowns and saints without crowns. There will be saints installed as rulers in heaven and saints under the loving rule of others. There will be saints who enter heaven with a richer and deeper love of God cultivated in this life and those who will begin eternity with a simpler grasp of glory. The work we do for God’s kingdom now has an eternal impact on our joy in the age to come.
Do not waste a moment
Rejoice in your work for God’s kingdom! Your Father sees every sacrifice, every moment of service, every act of love and will he eagerly awaits to reward you in indescribable ways as a demonstration of his perfect love! Do not waste a single moment in this lifetime—let each of your waking breaths be used for his kingdom knowing that, in love, every act of obedience will be generously rewarded by your loving Father.
