Mar 1, 2019 By Tracey Gardon 4 min read

This a follow up to my most recent article, “Building and growing a successful church,” in which I dealt with this topic from a more corporate level. Now I will address it on the personal level.

Let’s acknowledge first that our salvation is predicated on Christ alone and that forgiveness of sins is the prerequisite before rewards in Heaven. But after coming to Christ and going through the life that you live, eventually it comes time to go home to be with the Lord.

The Bible makes it clear that there will be rewards, some might say prizes, gifts or bonuses, which we can accumulate here on Earth, while alive in this life and receive once we get to heaven in our new life: The Afterlife.

Matt 6:19a NIV “But store up for yourselves treasures in Heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.”

When you pray and fast in secret, or, at the very least, don’t make a big show of it, Jesus informs us that our Heavenly Father will reward us.

Found in Matt 6:5-18: We will be rewarded for our works and labor that stand the fire of God testing.

As found in 1 Cor 3:8, 14: Not only are we to store up rewards that are heavenly based, but the great news is they won’t wear out. They can’t be taken from us. They are secured in Heaven’s vault and are safe from deterioration and theft.

Erroneously, too many people think that God will owe them something when they pass over because they thought they lived a better life than others. They believe their kindness should ensure some benefit above others. Some believe that since they gave money, or more money than others, their giving gives them a leg up on rewards.

Some people put their church attendance, serving and charity at the forefront for their heavenly compensation.

What you are building up here will add up in Heaven, but the question remains: What you are building up and why? What life are you living for God? How are you living that life? Why are you living the way you do?

Jesus informs in the Parable of the Talents in Matt 25:14-30 that “He who is faithful with little will be given much”.

What has been entrusted to your care? Here is some: children, marriage, work, your health, your church, your income, relationships, your reputation and integrity, civic involvement, your speech and attitude, your walk with God, the list goes on.

What is the life you are living? Maybe it’s not everything you wanted; perhaps some things do need to change and there is nothing wrong with improving our circumstances for the better, but are we being faithful to what we are living?

The greatest factor for determining our eternal reward in heaven is our faithfulness to live for God here. The aspects of faithfulness are loyalty, devotion, trustworthiness, dependability, dedication, commitment and consistency.

Are we living for Christ no matter what our circumstances or situation?

Colossians 3:17 NIV just about says it all, ” And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

So there it is, we can and should be building up a stockpile of rewards by being faithful to live the life we have, in Christ.

God promises it, secures it and will reward us for it, but I couldn’t help wondering what the rewards might look like and what would we do with them.

My opinion may be found in Rev 4:10-11 NIV, “the 24 elders fall down before him who sits on the throne, and worship him who lives forever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne.”

I believe that we will lay our rewards before God, like the elders and their crowns.