When we think about our blessings in heaven we usually think about the immense pleasure of just being in God’s presence and enjoying his love. We may not think so much about the rewards God will give because that seems too self-focused. Moreover, how much good is a reward compared to being directly in God’s presence with Jesus? In Bernard of Clairvaux’s (b. 1090 – d. 1153) famous work On Loving God he says that “God is not loved without reward, although he should be loved without regard for one” (Sec. 6.17). Bernard rates loving God for the rewards as only the second of four levels of loving God.
And yet scripture repeatedly uses rewards to motivate us to be Christlike. God assures us in Ephesians 6:7-8 that we should do “service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man, knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord.” (ESV) In II Cor 5:9-10, which is directed at Christians, Paul explains his motivation: “So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.” (ESV) When it comes to ministry “He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor.” (I Cor. 3:8). Jesus teaches: “Love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great.” (Lk. 6:35)
So we know that some Christians will have greater rewards in heaven than others. In our time people are resistant to the idea that God will judge our lives and some will have more blessing than others in eternity. Society teaches us that everyone should be able to do as they please and everybody’s actions are equally valuable. This self-centered idea comes to affect how believers think about their Christian lives. But of course this is only an excuse to be god of our own life instead of fletting God be God.
But why does scripture motivate us to good works by promising reward? I think the simple answer is that the rewards we receive in heaven will be something we really value in eternity. God is not going to give us something that we won’t value, or that He doesn’t value. God is not going to give some people more gold and jewels than others since we will not value gold and jewels very much. Instead, God will reward us with something that brings eternal joy and delight. What could bring us eternal joy and delight? More of God in Christ. More of His goodness in us. More of his glory shining in and through us. More of His praise “Well done, good and faithful servant.” (Mt. 25:23)
So let us live this life eager for the rewards that God gives. You might think that you won’t care about rewards in heaven – but you will. Is God able to give a reward that is infinitely valuable? Is He willing to reward us with more of Himself? Let us “not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap.” (Gal. 6:9) God is encouraging us to completely surrender ourselves to living Christlike lives for our “light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison.” (II Cor. 4:17)
All scripture quotes are from the ESV.
