Tag: Rewards

Treasures in Heaven: Rewards for Faithful Christians

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JEFF TURNER

The Bible speaks often about the rewards God promises to those who follow Him faithfully. Jesus Himself told believers to gather treasures in heaven, where they will last forever. The Apostle Peter also mentioned a reward — an everlasting crown for those who faithfully care for others. One of the clearest messages about eternal rewards comes from Paul in 1 Corinthians 3:14, where he explains that anyone whose work stands firm will receive a reward from God.

Some people feel uneasy about the idea of Christians receiving rewards, believing it to be selfish or wrong to think about personal gain. However, this idea is clearly taught in Scripture. In fact, rejecting the idea of rewards means rejecting what God has promised. From the earliest pages of the Bible, God made it clear that obedience brings blessing. In Deuteronomy, He told Israel that obedience would lead to blessings, while disobedience would result in curses. This principle has existed since the Garden of Eden. When Adam and Eve obeyed, they lived in peace; when they disobeyed, they faced consequences.

God’s desire has always been to bless those who walk in His ways. These rewards are not only for this life but for eternity as well. And while we may receive crowns and honours in heaven, Scripture tells us that we will lay those rewards at Jesus’ feet, giving Him the glory. It is a reminder that all good things, including our rewards, come from Him.

the twenty-four elders will fall down before Him who sits on the throne, and they will worship Him who lives forever and ever, and will cast their crowns before the throne, saying,
“Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created.”

Revelation 4:10-11
The Book of Matthew

Did Jesus promise a reward for helping those who preach the Gospel?

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Floyd Rogers – Texas Gospel Volunteer, Christian writer

Matthew 10:40-42 NASB: “The one who receives you receives Me, and the one who receives Me receives Him who sent Me. 41 The one who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward; and the one who receives a righteous person in the name of a righteous person shall receive a righteous person’s reward. 42 And whoever gives one of these little ones just a cup of cold water to drink in the name of a disciple, truly I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward.”  (New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation.)

When Jesus gave his disciples instructions as they got ready to preach to the lost sheep of the House of Israel, he spoke of rewards.  I believe this includes rewards for the apostles and for those who helped them. Let’s examine Matthew 10:40-42 and consider what Jesus had to say, the disagreement some people have about verse 42, and the implications for us today.

Jesus has just finished telling his apostles that many will reject the Gospel, and some will get violent. But he also said, “The one who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward…” He added the one who receives a righteous person in the name of a righteous person shall receive a righteous person’s reward. I think it’s clear in this context he is saying the reward of those who help the apostles spread the gospel is the same as that of the apostles who are preaching the gospel and the act of welcoming Jesus’ apostle is the same as the act of welcoming Jesus.  I think a fair analogy from our modern world is the welcoming of an ambassador.  The host country isn’t just welcoming the ambassador, it welcomes the ambassador’s country; the one who sent him or her.

I found there is some disagreement about whom Verse 42 speaks. Jesus tells of the reward given to the person who gives a drink of water to any of these little ones.  Jesus often used the word “children” as a metaphor to describe adults in a spiritual sense. Here, there are at least two groups this metaphor may describe.  I believe Jesus’ metaphor of giving cold water to “little ones” refers to the apostles giving the lost sheep the Gospel, and says the apostles will be rewarded. But I found at least one author who says this refers to the apostles as “little ones” and those who give them a literal drink of cold water will be rewarded. I could argue either way, but at the end of the day, Jesus is talking about rewards given to those who help in carrying out his work.

I think it’s important to note, these are Jesus’ instructions to his apostles as they head out on a specific mission.  Some of the instructions given in the chapter (such as not preaching to the Gentiles or Samaritans) are clearly for this mission only because later they are told to preach to everybody.  But I think since Jesus said, “a prophet,” and not my apostle; and since he spoke of “a righteous person” rather than a specific righteous person, that this applies to all who do this rather than only the people to whom the apostles encountered on this specific mission.  When we help a person spread the gospel, I understand these verses to tell us we share in his or her reward. Could we infer from this a warning about helping those who spread a false doctrine?

What are your thoughts?

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