What are the rewards believers will receive in heaven?

Bible Question:

What are the rewards that each believer will receive in heaven? Should we do God's work here on earth with these in mind so that we can obtain many rewards in heaven one day?

Bible Answer:

Day of Judgment Before God

Recently, an agnostic said that he would “improvise, adapt, and overcome” if it turns out that there is an afterlife.”¹ That is a view not shared by the vast majority of people in the world. Every major religion teaches that after we die, something good or something bad will happen to us. We sense there is a judgment to come. Why? God placed that sense within us. Some of us can suppress it, but inside we can sense there is coming a time of “review for what we did in this life.” That is also true for Christians. Listen to these words.

For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of God. For it is written, “AS I LIVE, SAYS THE LORD, EVERY KNEE SHALL BOW TO ME, AND EVERY TONGUE SHALL GIVE PRAISE TO GOD.” So then each one of us shall give account of himself to God. Romans 14:10b-12 (NASB)

Romans 14:10-12 says that everyone, unbelievers and believers, will stand before the judgment seat of God and give an account of ourselves. The Greek word for “account” implies that we have to explain. But unbelievers will discover that they must explain why they rejected Jesus Christ (Luke 10:12-15; 11:30-32).

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. 2 Corinthians 5:10 (NASB)

This passage is directed to believers. They will also be judged. What follows provides more information.

Day of Judgment

The review of the unbeliever’s behavior in this life will result in a verdict that sends him or her to hell. Matthew 12:36 says that every careless word will be judged.

But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment. Matthew 12:36 (NASB)

Romans 2:16 says that God will judge the secret thoughts. That will include the motives.

On the day when, according to my gospel, God will judge the secrets of men through Christ Jesus. Romans 2:16 (NASB)

In Mathew 25:41-45 Jesus tells that He will judge the works of unbelievers. He will judge how people treated Him and others. Their finally sentencing will be an eternity in hell. That is the message of Matthew 25:46.

And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life. Matthew 25:46 (NASB)

Revelation 20:11-14 also reveals that the deeds of unbelievers will be evaluated. But the ultimate reason they will be sent to hell is that they rejected Jesus Christ,. Consequently, their names will not be written in the book of life. Because they rejected Jesus, they will be thrown into the lake of fire, the lake that burns with fire forever and ever (Revelation 20:7-10).

Day for Rewards

But for Christians, the day of judgment will not be one of condemnation (Romans 8:1). Instead, it will be a time for receiving rewards. What a difference compared to what unbelievers will suffer! The first and best gift that God will give to believers is eternal life with Him in heaven. Christians do not need to fear going to hell. This gift is enough reason to seek Jesus Christ and believe in Him.

In addition to entering heaven, believers will also be given rewards for their faithful service. 1 Corinthians 3:11-15 reveals how God will evaluate the deeds of believers.

For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man builds upon the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each man’s work will become evident; for the day will show it, because it is to be revealed with fire; and the fire itself will test the quality of each man’s work. If any man’s work which he has built upon it remains, he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work is burned up, he shall suffer loss; but he himself shall be saved, yet so as through fire. 1 Corinthians 3:11-15 (NASB)

But the ultimate evaluation will be the motivation for our deeds (Colossians 3:23-24).

Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men; knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. Colossians 3:23-24 (NASB)

God will evaluate our motivations (1 Corinthians 4:5).

Scripture never tells us what the rewards are or how they are different. The prophet Daniel seems not only to tell us that God will give different rewards to different Christians, but the rewards may be visually different.

And many of those who sleep in the dust of the ground will awake, these to everlasting life, but the others to disgrace and everlasting contempt. And those who have insight will shine brightly like the brightness of the expanse of heaven, and those who lead the many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever. Daniel 12:2-3 (NASB)

2 John 8 seems to imply that we can lose our rewards.

Watch yourselves, that you might not lose what we have accomplished, but that you may receive a full reward. 2 John 8 (NASB)

The five crowns that are mentioned in the New Testament are not rewards that believers will receive for good works. They are characteristics of eternal life. They are not rewards in heaven nor are they rewards of heaven. They describe what believers will experience.

Conclusion:

Rewards are mentioned in Scripture to motivate believers to serve Him. When we arrive in heaven, there will be no pride, honor, or self-glory for things we have done. There will be no competition. Before we were forgiven, we could only do bad works (Rom. 3:12); but after we believed in Jesus, everything changed. Now believers can do good works with the help of the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 2:10). God calls us to be a living sacrifice. To die to ourselves in serving Him.

I urge you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. For through the grace given to me I say to every man among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith. Romans 12:1-3 (NASB)

He asks us to not think highly of ourselves. Our rewards are not for self-glory, but require self-sacrifice. So what is the purpose and benefit of the rewards? To motivate us to perform God’s will for our lives. Jesus encourages us to store up treasure in heaven (Matthew 6:19-20).