By Bill Fiess
Famous athletes often share their thoughts on rewards in the context of their achievements and the value of hard work. Here are some notable quotes from athletes that reflect their views on rewards:
- Michael Jordan: “If you do the work, you get rewarded. There are no shortcuts in life.”
- Serena Williams: “I really think a champion is defined not by their wins but by how they can recover when they fall.”
- Usain Bolt: “Don’t think about the start of the race, think about the ending.”
MOST CHRISTIAN LEADERS DON’T MENTION REWARDS
However, in the Christian realm it is quite different. Most Christian pastors rarely mention rewards, and many even demean the idea. One very famous leader (now deceased) of a large Christian organization taught his followers: “Don’t work for rewards; just love Jesus!’ The best-known Christian evangelists today mention almost nothing about eternal rewards. In fact, the Navigators, perhaps the best-known Christian discipleship ministry in the world, does not explicitly teach about eternal rewards.
JESUS CHRIST SPOKE REPEATEDLY ABOUT REWARDS
By contrast, Jesus Christ spoke about eternal rewards over and over again.i For example:
“Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven…” (Matt 5:11–12).
“And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work” (Rev 22:12).
“For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his work.” (Matt 16:27).
Furthermore, Jesus commands His followers to work for rewards. He says:
“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matt 6:19–21).
“Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven…But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly” (Matt 6:1, 3-4).
How can I love Jesus and yet reject His commands? It seems impossible to love Jesus and not work for rewards.
CHALLENGED TO WORK FOR GREAT REWARD
In fact, Scripture challenges and motivates us to work for great reward. It states:
Moreover by them Your servant is warned, and in keeping them there is great reward (Ps 19:11).
“But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil” (Luke 6:35).
…for you [the believing readers of Hebrews] had compassion on me [the author] in my chains [MT reading],ii and joyfully accepted the plundering of your goods, knowing that you have a better and an enduring possession for yourselves in heaven. Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward (Heb 10:34–35).
At this point we should mention that while a believer cannot ever lose eternal life,iii he will be evaluated for his works at the Judgment Seat of Christ.iv There, he could lose eternal reward.v
WHAT IS INVOLVED IN SEEKING GREAT REWARD?
Now you might ask, “What does seeking great reward involve?” It stands to reason that there will be degrees in the rewards believers will receive. But Jesus Christ emphasizes that the ultimate privilege of a believer will be sharing in His eternal reign. This involves persevering to the end of my life. Jesus states:
“But hold fast what you have till I come. And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations— He shall rule them with a rod of iron" (Rev 2:25-27).
This also is suggested by Heb 10:36 [note Heb 10:35 above], which states: “For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise: (Heb 10:36).” That promise is “the promise of the eternal inheritance”— ruling with Jesus Christ—mentioned in Heb 9:15. This is attained by being faithful to the end (Heb 3:6, 14).
SOME EXAMPLES
Actually, the entire book of Hebrews is motivating us to be partners (metochoi) of Jesus Christ (Heb 1:9), and Hebrews 11 gives example after example of Old Testament believers who were successful, that is, who were working for great rewards in the age to come.
Zane Hodges had this to say about Hebrews 10:
Vengeance and judgment await the apostate (vv 30–31). But the readers can be strengthened against such failure by the recollection of their former fidelity in time of trial (vv 32–34). This past confidence is to be maintained now: “Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward” (v 35). What they need is “endurance” so that they may accomplish God’s will and receive the reward He has promised (v 36). The coming of Christ draws near (v 37) and this should give them courage to hold on.vi
Dwight Moody does a superb job of expressing the gravity of the term great in relation to rewards:
Be not discouraged, Christian, although the way be rough and weary; look up beyond, there is reserved for you a “great reward in heaven”—up in heaven, beyond the clouds, the sorrows, and the tears. Oh, my friends, if God calls that reward “great,” how great must it be? We, perhaps, would call it great, even if it had not been very much, for we are accustomed to little things; but when God calls it “great,” we may be sure it is something to look forward to. See, then, that you are looking to heaven for your reward.vii
WHAT ABOUT YOU AND ME?
If someone wins the World Series, he receives great temporal reward. If someone wins the Super Bowl, he receives great temporal reward. But great eternal reward can be won by both small and great if they are faithful servants of Jesus Christ (e.g., Matt 25:21, 23).
This poem, quoted by well-known theologian W.E. Vine, expresses well the challenge to work for great eternal rewards.
Go now, and “work,” believers!
But work in peace, and free!
Of grace the glad receivers—
To live in victory!
A call to glory summons:
“Exceeding great reward!”
Then down with all life’s burdens,
You chosen of the Lord!viii
Believer, are you working for great reward?
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Bill Fiess teaches mathematics at Southwest Virginia Community College. He also teaches Introduction to Logos Bible Software for the GES Seminary.
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i The Greek word misthos, meaning wages or reward, is used sixteen times by Jesus Christ. But, as we will see, Jesus also mentions rewards in many other ways. Logos Bible software notes fifty-eight passages in which Jesus spoke of rewards—and this may not be conclusive.
ii The Critical Text (CT) reads tois desmiois, the prisoners, rather than tois desmois mou, my chains, in the majority of manuscripts.
iii See John 6:35-40.
iv Rev 22:12; 2 Cor 5:10.
v Rev 3:11; 1 Cor 3:15.
vi Hodges, Z. C., A Free Grace Primer: The Hungry Inherit, The Gospel Under Siege, Grace in Eclipse, edited by R. N. Wilkin (Grace Evangelical Society, 2011), p. 186.
vii Moody, D. L., Life Words from Gospel Addresses, edited by G. F. G. Royle (John Snow & Co., 1875), p. 85.
viii Vine, W. E., Collected Writings of W.E. Vine (Nashville TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers,1996).
