Rewards
REWARDS
There is a vast difference in the doctrine of salvation for the lost and the doctrine of rewards for the saved. SALVATION IS “THE GIFT OF GOD: NOT OF WORKS” (Eph. 2:8,9). Salvation is received by faith in the finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ (John 3:36). Rewards are according to the works of the believer (Matt. 16:27).
A most revealing Scripture concerning rewards is found on (1Cor. 3:8-15).
First, every believer will be rewarded according to his own labor (v8). We do not labor for salvation.
Second, “We are laborers together with God” (v9) – not for salvation but for rewards. Third, the believer is to build on the Lord Jesus Christ, the only foundation (v11). Fourth, the believer has a choice of two kinds (groups) of building materials: “gold, silver, precious stones” – this is building with eternal materials; or “wood, hay, stubble” – this is building with temporal materials (verse 12) (2Cor. 4:18).
The believer who builds on Christ with eternal materials, “gold, silver, precious stones,” shall receive a reward. Those who build on Christ with temporal materials, “wood, hay, stubble,” will receive no reward. The “wood, hay, stubble” works will be destroyed at “the judgement of Christ,” and the believer will suffer loss – not the loss of salvation, but the loss of eternal reward.
Some believers will be ashamed at the “judgement seat of Christ” (1John 2:28) – ashamed of their works of “wood, hay, stubble.”
In the first year of someone’s ministry, he sat at the bedside of a dying friend. As they talked about his home-going, tears filled his eyes. The friend being young in the Lord, the minister thought he was afraid to die, and he attempted to speak words of encouragement to him. He said, “I am not afraid to die; I am ashamed to die.” He went on to say that Christ was his Savior, but he had lived for self, and now had to meet the Lord Jesus Christ empty-handed. His life loomed up before him as “wood, hay stubble” He was “saved so as by fire.”
REWARDS ARE CALLED “CROWNS” IN THE NEW TESTAMENT
1. THE CROWN OF LIFE (James 1:12)
2. THE CROWN INCORRUPTIBLE (1Cor. 9:24-27)
3. THE CROWN OF REJOICING (1Thes. 2:19,20)
4. THE CROWN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS (2Tim. 4:5-8)
5. THE CROWN OF GLORY (1Pet. 5:2-4)
Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the CROWN OF LIFE that God has promised to those who love him.
This reward could be called the lover’s crown. Upon examination of the above verse, we discover that the believer finds strength to overcome temptation and endure trials, through the love of God. Paul said, “We glory in tribulations also.” The question is: Do we today glory in tribulation? We can, only if the “love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit” (Rom. 5:3-5). Without the love of God in the heart of the believer, trials can cause him to become bitter and critical and lose the “crown of life.”
All believers have eternal life (John 3:15,16), but not all believers will be rewarded with the “crown of life.” This crown will be given to those who are “faithful unto death” (Rev. 2:10). To receive the “crown of life,” the believer must love the Lord more than his own life. “Whosoever will save his life (live for self) shall lose it ; but whosoever lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s (live for Christ at all cost), the same shall save it” (Mark 8:35). This reward will be given to those who live for Christ, and endure temptations, in the power of the love of God (1Cor. 10:13).
24 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.
25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.
26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:
27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.
Paul makes use of the Greek games to illustrate the spiritual race of the believers. They ran to win “a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible” crown. No young man could contend in the games unless he was a Greek citizen, born of Greek parents. No unsaved person can participate in the services of the Lord for rewards; only the born of God are eligible (John 3:3).
Just as the athlete must deny himself many gratification of the body, so the believer must “keep under his body, and bring it unto subjection” or he will become a “castaway.” He will not lose his salvation, but he will lose the “incorruptible crown”
The Greek games had hard and fast rules for all participants. The New Testament contains the rules for believers who would enter the spiritual race to win the “incorruptible crown.”
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The believer must deny self of anything that would weigh him down and hold him back (Heb. 12:1)
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The believer must keep his eyes fixed on Christ, and not look to the right or left (Heb. 12:2)
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The believer must find his strength in the Lord (Eph. 6:10-18)
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The believer must place his all upon the alter of the Lord (Rom. 12:1-2)
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The believer must, by faith, refuse anything that would impede spiritual progress (Heb. 11:24-29)
DO NOT BE A SPIRITUAL SPECTATOR. ENTER THE RACE AND RUN TO WIN THE “INCORRUPTIBLE CROWN.”
3. THE CROWN OF REJOICING (1Thes. 2:19,20)
19 For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?
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For ye are our glory and joy.
The “crown of rejoicing” is the soul winner’s crown. The greatest work you are privileged to do for the LORD is to bring others to a knowledge of CHRIST as personal SAVIOUR. The degree of your joy in heaven will be determined by the souls you have had a part in bringing to CHRIST. Paul tells the Thessalonian believers that they are his “hope, joy, or crown of rejoicing” now and when Jesus comes.
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It is wise to win souls to CHRIST (Pro. 11:30)
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It is a work against sin to win souls to Christ (James 5:20)
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It is a cause for joy in heaven to win souls to Christ (Luke 15:10)
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Every soul winner will shine as the stars forever (Dan. 12:3)
HOW YOU CAN WIN SOULS TO CHRIST:
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Witness with your life; live that others may see Christ in you (2Cor. 3:2; Gal. 2:20)
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Witness with your mouth, trusting the Holy Spirit to give power to the spoken word (Acts 1:8)
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Witness by tithes and offering that others may preach Christ, and you will have “fruit (reward) that may abound to your account” (Phil. 4:15-17; 2Cor.9:6)
GOD HAS PROMISED THAT YOUR LABOR WILL NOT BE IN VAIN IN THE LORD (1COR. 15:58). THE SOUL WINNER WILL NOT REJOICE ALONE – ALL OF HEAVEN WILL REJOICE WITH HIM WHEN HE RECEIVES THE “CROWN OF REJOICING” (JOHN 4:36).
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But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.
6 For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.
7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:
8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.
The “crown of righteousness” is a reward, and it is not to be confused with the “righteousness of God” which the believer receives when he becomes a Christian; for at that time, the believer is “made the righteousness of God in him” (2Cor. 5:21). This saving righteousness is a gift to be accepted by the lost. The “crown of righteousness” is a reward to be earned by the saved. If the believer looks for, and loves the doctrine of the second coming of Christ, it will affect his whole life. Look at the dynamic impact this truth had on the life of the apostle Paul. He could say:
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“I have fought a good fight” (v7; also 1Cor.15:32). He fought a spiritual battle throughout his Christian life, and won. He never surrendered to the enemies of righteousness (Ephesians 6:12).
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“I have finished my course.” He had a course to travel. And he did not detour the hard places; neither did he look back (Luke 9:61,62). He finished his course with his eyes fixed on Christ (Philipians 1:6).
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“I have kept the faith.” He preached all the “counsel of God” – never betraying any of the great doctrines (Acts 20:24 – 31). The apostle looked ahead to the “Judgement seat of Christ” where the “crown of righteousness” will be given to those who “love His appearing.” How it is important for the believer to look with the heart of love for the second coming of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, that he may receive the “crown of righteousness” (v8).
2 Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care, serving as overseers--not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve;
3 not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.
4 And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.
The “crown of glory” is a special reward for the faithful, obedient God-called pastor. He will receive this reward when the “Chief Shepherd shall appear.” It is eternal; it “fadeth not away.” Every believer may share in the pastor’s “crown of glory.” “He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet reward" (Matt 10:41). Support your faithful, God-called pastor by praying for him and encourage him in the work of the Lord. Undergird his ministry with God’s tithes and your offering (Malachi 3:10), giving freely of your time to the service of the Lord. And God will reward you for supporting His chosen servant by allowing you to share in your pastor's reward. The pastor will earn this “crown of glory” by:
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Feeding the church. He is to proclaim the word of God without fear or favor; and, when necessary, he will reprove, rebuke and exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine ( 2Timothy 4:2-5).
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Taking the spiritual oversight of the church. The pastor is responsible to God for the message preached to his people. No pastor should preach to please the people; he is to please his Lord (Gal. 1:10)
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Being an example to the church. He is not to serve for the reward of money . Yet the church is responsible to care for his every material need (1Timothy 5:18). He is to be a spiritual leader, and not a dictator. He is to walk with God by faith. “And when the Chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away” (v4).
Rev. 4:10-11
The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast THEIR CROWNS before the throne, saying,
11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.
The 24 elders of this verse could be the representative figure (12 from Old Testament saints and 12 from the New Testament saints) from the Body of Christ. They cast their crowns and worshipped the LORD. Let us press forward in our spiritual race, fight the good fight of faith and to successfully FINISH the course (we are not running a race to win but to finish !!!!!!! because already we are running a winning race in Jesus Christ; our Lord has won for us, for He said, “behold I have overcome”)
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