Over the last few blogs, I have been discussing each of the crowns mentioned in the NT. The reason I have done so is that this year at the GES national conference in May, our VBS will be exploring these crowns with the kids. I have already looked at four of them (SEE HERE, HERE, HERE, and HERE). Today I would like to discuss the final crown—the crown of rejoicing.
It is mentioned in 1 Thess 2:19 and Phil 4:1:
For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming? (1 Thess 2:19)
Therefore, my beloved and longed-for brethren, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, beloved. (Phil 4:1)
This crown is connected to our relationship with other people. We should be concerned about others. We should desire that believers around us are pleasing to the Lord and that they stand firm in their faithfulness to Him. When they do, we should be glad. At VBS, this crown will be associated with the color gold, representing celebration and joy.
The big idea is:
“People are God’s greatest joy, and should be ours too.”
Paul’s point is that our reward in the kingdom will be connected to how other believers do. If we have helped our fellow believers to stand firm at the Lord’s coming, they will be rewarded on that day. It will be a day of rejoicing because we had a part in the rewards they will receive. We will share in those rewards.
As with all the crowns, there is a distinction between eternal life and the doctrine of rewards. This distinction is extremely important. Eternal life is received freely by faith. Having a role in developing others who were faithful to the Lord will take work. That is a reward earned by teaching, discipling, and serving others.
The doctrine of rewards is often presented as pertaining to believers as individuals. Especially in the West, we concentrate on how we, personally, are doing and give little attention to how those around us are doing spiritually. We see ourselves as Rambo—a one-man/woman soldier, a rugged individualist. Who needs others? We do.
The crown of rejoicing highlights the fact that no one will stand before the Lord and hear His approval because they ran the race alone. It will be because of the fellowship and teamwork of the Body of Christ.
At VBS, we will emphasize teamwork. We are on the same team, the Body of Christ. We have a responsibility to others. We should desire that believers around us hear the Lord say to them, “Well done, good and faithful servant!” Their crowns will be a crown of rejoicing for us.
At VBS, we will discuss how people in the ancient world celebrated feasts together. These feasts were times of fellowship and rejoicing. We gather in similar ways today. Imagine seeing the Lord and eating at His table with fellow believers. If we helped them faithfully serve the Lord, just imagine the rejoicing that will take place on that day.
That is imagery that both kids and adults can benefit from.
