If you have been a Christian (Yeshua follower), then you probably already have heard:
Mat 6:19-21 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
Often this is mentioned when ministries need funding or something along those lines and other times to remind people that they need to be givers. If you really have undergone the new birth in Christ, then you all already a giver and have that nature in you. At times though, we can subdue those urges and can need to be reminded.
There is a major question that is usually not brought up. Ready? Here it is, “what is the treasure we are building, what is the reward?”
Some might quickly answer, “money of course, that is what I give that is what I will receive”. Really? Do you think that there will be “money” in heaven? The streets are gold, there are precious stones everything, you are completely taken care of, you have no need for anything, what would you use money for?
In the store of the rich man who tried to justify himself based on the Ten Commandments, Jesus said unto him:
Mat 19:20-21 The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet? Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.
Many of us understand that this is not so much about the money as it is that the man had made the money and idol and really was in violation of the Ten Commandments he claimed to have obeyed. But it still makes mention of the “treasures” in heaven.
There is also:
1Co 3:6-15 I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.
For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building. According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
As we can see, He is talking about what we have done with our lives. This is not about Sin, this is about how we have lived our life, the works we have done for God and His Kingdom. Notice, the foundation is Christ and there can be no other foundation, this is where we are brought into His grace. What do we add over our lives? You might give some money to help someone you think is doing good and is not, which would probably be considered “stubble”. You go to church regularly and even read the bulletins, yep, that would be ”hay”. Maybe you want to build a big addition to the local church so that you can make it a memorial to a family member, that could be “wood”.
All you do in the flesh without being truly motivated by a passionate heart towards God, is “wood, hay, stubble”. It is only what a heart full of God is used do we add “gold, silver, precious stones”. Actions such as leading others to salvation, showing compassion on others without regard of reward, making sacrifices in your life to help the family of God, here and now. These are the types of actions in our lives that really matter. Everything else will pass away, but these types of things will give you an everlasting reward.
So, what is the “reward”, what do we get for a life filled with God? I am sure you already realize that we receive a full life for starters. As we do the worthy actions in our life, there are rewards right now in this world for our work. This can come in the form of friends, gifts, respect, admiration, etc. Many times, performing actions worthy of reward, give us a feelings that are worth the effort in the first place. There are other times we may see a reward in something over a long period of time, that is if we keep watch.
We also have the passage:
Mat 19:28-29 And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.
See, it says right there that we will have a “hundredfold” return. Okay, there is also:
Mar 10:29-30 And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's, But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.
It does say “hundred fold now in this time” and that you will receive “houses”. That means I will receive a hundred houses for every one of them I give for the gospel, right? No, it does not say it is rewarded to you as a “possession”. If that is the case how will you possess a hundred sisters, or mothers? It means that you give of yourself and you will be part of the family of God and receive these in fellowship. Also do not overlook the “with persecutions”. The only part there that is promised to live past this life is you.
You might say, “Okay, that is rewards here, but it says in heaven, what do I get in heaven for the work, will I have a bigger mansion or maybe a larger section of real estate?”
I believe we will have many types of rewards in heaven, but it is not as some might think, that is material. Since there is no need for finances in heaven and there will be no need for anything, that leaves us with only a few things the rewards can mean.
First, it may be related to “position”, “responsibility” or “rank”. It does say we will be awarded different crowns. In other places the Scriptures mentions things such as the story of the talents (Mat 25:14 – 45) where it talks about the man traveling away for a while and gives his servants a portion of money each to work with for him. When he returns he finds that one servant was bad with an evil heart and did not do anything with what he had entrusted him. The story goes on to say that which the bad servant had was to be given to the servant that earned the most, who had shown that he is more responsible and able to do the work better.
Of course, this type of reward still does not seem to be of a great value in heaven as in the passage:
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, 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.
Here it shows the real value of those crowns, they are thrown before the thrown as if saying He is the only one worth honor.
Okay, so what do we really receive them up in heaven other than the respect of others and possible a crown? Well, I think the vast majority of our reward will not be in any form of payment, but be a lot more as described in the wonderful song by Ray Boltz called “Thank you for giving to the Lord”:
http://my.homewithgod.com/heavenlymidis2/thankyou.html
The song is a view from heaven of a people coming before a person and telling them of the things the person has done that changed their lives. Towards the end the lyrics go:
One by one they came, far as your eyes could see. Each life somehow touched by your generosity. Little things that you had done, sacrifices that you made, They were unnoticed on this earth In Heaven now proclaimed.
And I know up in Heaven you're not supposed to cry But I am almost sure there were tears in your eyes As Jesus took your hand and you stood before the Lord He said "My child look around you, Great is your reward."
That is what all of this is about. I do not think anyone can describe it any better. You want to serve the Lord, you want a Reward, this is the reward you should work for, this is the only reason for us to even be here, this IS your “Treasures in heaven”!