A story is told about a preacher and a New York City cab driver who died on the same day and was greeted in Heaven by Peter. The preacher received a small cottage but the cab driver received this large magnificent mansion. The preacher was a little bit disturbed by this turn of events and decided to ask Peter why he received this small cottage and the cab driver received the mansion. Peter said, “It really is quite simple. When you preached many slept but when he was driving everyone stayed awake and prayed.” Today as we begin our series answering your questions about Heaven, we will answer the question of rewards in Heaven. The logical place to start is for us to gain a correct definition for the word reward. Webster defines reward this way: something that is given in return for good or evil done or received and especially that is offered or given for some service or attainment. If we accept this as a correct definition then Heaven can not be a reward. Eternal life is not something that we earn; it is a gift that God freely gives through grace to those who have chosen to believe in Jesus Christ. However, the Bible speaks of rewards many times which leaves us with many unanswered questions. In our text Paul does an excellent job in clearing up some of the misconceptions we often hold in regard to rewards. In fact Paul challenges much of the traditional theology we have developed in regard to Heaven. I would like for us to examine this passage and take the time to answer the question are there different levels of rewards in Heaven.
I. Heaven is not something that we work to attain it is a gift that God freely gives His children.
A. There is equality in Heaven on the basis that no one is there on their own merit.
1. In Heaven no one will boast that they are there because they deserve to be.
2. Heaven is the result of our faith in the redeeming work of Jesus Christ.
3. Heaven is based on our acceptance of the fact that Jesus paid the penalty for our sins on the cross of Calvary.
4. Our sins merit eternal Hell but because of the precious blood of Jesus Christ we are washed white as snow.
B. Perhaps the most correct view of Heaven would be to see it as an inheritance.
1. Inherit means to come into possession of or receive especially as a right or divine portion.
2. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. (Matthew 19:29—NIV)
3. An inheritance is something of value that is given to children who are rightful heirs.
4. We do not earn an inheritance it is freely given to those who are considered to be heirs.
5. Through what Christ has done for us we are adopted as children into God’s family and made heirs of His Kingdom.
6. So the bottom line is that Heaven is not a reward but it will be a place of rewards.
II. God’s justice demands that His children be rewarded for their faithfulness.
A. God has called each of us to active service in His Kingdom.
1. God will never judge us according to what another person does; we will be rewarded on the basis of what we have done in this life for Him.
2. All of us should have the same goal, which is to lead others to a growing relationship in Jesus Christ.
3. Perhaps the best way to understand this is to see that we are co-workers who belong to God and are working together with one another.
4. We need to see the different ministries in the church as essential and of equal worth.
5. The purpose of the different ministries in the church is to bring glory to God and to benefit the whole church.
B. A concept that is problematic for many is the fact that all will be called to give an account before the judgment seat of Christ.
1. The fact is that if we are clothed in Jesus Christ then our sins were judge at the cross.
2. So if your life has been covered by the blood of Christ your eternal fate has been settled.
3. The matter however that remains unsettled is the fruits of our faith.
4. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad. (2 Corinthians 5:10—NIV)
5. Before the Judgment Seat of Christ all service for the Lord will be reviewed.
C. God’s justice will not allow all of us to be treated identical based on the merits of our service to Him.
1. Each of our ministries for Him will be evaluated and the sincerity and motives of our work will be made obvious.
2. Those that have worked hard with sincere hearts will be rewarded as the Lord sees they were faithful to Christ’s instructions.
3. The foundation is Jesus Christ and all who build upon this foundation will inherit eternal life.
4. There will be some however, whose service was inferior and their works will not last.
5. These builders will be saved as if they had jumped out of a burning building and lost everything but their lives.
6. They may enter Heaven but will not receive the same reward as those who built well.
7. What a great waste to live life on earth only to discover that what we have invested our interests, priorities, money and talents in are worthless in Heaven’s eyes.
III. Rewards in Heaven will be given on the basis of the fruits of our faith.
A. The message for us to hear is that each of us builds into the church only the values we build in our own lives.
1. Veteran missionary to India, Amy Carmichael, said, “The work will never go deeper than we have gone ourselves.”
2. We end up tearing down our own lives if we fail to build into the church the values that will last.
3. Although we may look very successful to men, but “the day shall declare it” and on that day we will see how much time and energy we really wasted.
4. This demands that we build the church and our lives on the truth of Jesus Christ not on teachings based on the values and desires of the world.
B. Building on the foundation of Jesus Christ is based upon making a tremendous investment into the lives of people.
1. Many would spend a lot of money for a stained glass window, but spend no money or make any personal sacrifice to clean a stained soul.
2. Building on this foundation is to build into people positive and unselfish thoughts because our minds affect our usefulness more than any other factor.
3. The only way to build these kinds of people is not only to teach them with our mouths but also to model the Christian way with our lives.
C. If you want to be rewarded in Heaven then you need to use the gifts that God has given you.
1. The Corinthians were having difficulty accepting their individual gifts, and allowed to go on they would not be able to use their gifts thus hurting the church.
2. We need to realize that each of us has our own unique gifts and ministry is not a competition.
3. If we copy another’s gifts and pretend to be someone we are not we will soon discover that any benefit will be short lived.
4. If we are functioning beneath our gifts or moving way beyond them our work will lack the necessary quality.
5. If we are utilizing our God-given gifts to their fullest our work will be seen as quality work.
D. Heaven will be one great rewards ceremony, which will hold many surprises.
1. Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men’s hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God. (1 Corinthians 4:5—NIV)
2. Many people whom the world and even us has viewed as insignificant will be judge to have done consistent quality work.
3. Some of the arrogant servants who marched to the drum beat of man’s applause will discover that their efforts did very little to advance the Kingdom.
4. The question is where are you planning to be rewarded?
Knofel Staton, shares this story about a woman named Nellie Matthews. Nellie was a senior saint (very senior). She was stooped over, could not talk plainly, and always shook back and forth. But she never missed church services and always sat on the forth row to the left on the end seat. She never looked up into my face, for she couldn’t. She never spoke to me, and I would not have understood her anyway. But she was always there. She seemed to have a gift of being present, and I noticed that as a teenage boy growing up. When I was in Korea sitting in a tent chapel, I would often think about my hometown church. And guess whose image consistently came to mind? Nellie Matthews. Her faithfulness spoke volumes to me. She didn’t try to be someone else. She didn’t try to impress people with what she wasn’t. She walked to church, sat in the forth pew, and that work helped change my life. She was a gold, silver and precious stone person. She used whatever gift that she had. And because she did, she helped put something more permanent into my life. Without saying a word, she helped build solid people onto a solid foundation, because she herself was solid and not a fake.
