Over the years I have heard many say that they are not looking for rewards for serving God, as if that were a very noble thing. There is only one problem, however: it directly opposes Jesus’ teachings on the matter. Our Lord made a very big deal of how important it is for God’s people to live in a way that will gain for them a maximum reward from God.

Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20  but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:19-21 (ESV)  

People will sacrifice for what they treasure.

We learn from Jesus and other biblical authors that “laying up” heavenly reward is costly. Just as we must deny ourselves to put aside savings and investments in the natural world, it is necessary to deny ourselves to gain heavenly riches, too.

Jesus taught in the passage above that the pursuit of worldly wealth and laying up heavenly riches can be at odds. We must choose which we will prioritize.

No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money. Matthew 6:24 (ESV) 

Money can be extremely useful in God’s kingdom if it is managed by someone whose heart is devoted to God. Those in whom God has put a gift of giving need money to fulfill this calling. Paul wrote about using money for God.

Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy. 18 Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, 19 storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.  1 Timothy 6:17–19 (NKJV)

It is not money that is the problem: it is the love of money.

For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.  1 Timothy 6:10 (NKJV)

If we make the choice to forego the pursuit of money, the thing that is most attractive to the great majority of people, it stands to reason that there must be something even better being offered by God.

Surely our Lord is not asking us to deny ourselves in this life just to be masochistic.

Paul the apostle was a man who willingly gave up worldly wealth, prestige, and power to follow Christ. What motivated him? Here are his stated reasons.

Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ 9  and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— 10  that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11  that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. Philippians 3:8-11 (ESV) 

Paul received a clear revelation of Christ that motivated him to pursue a lifetime of costly service to his Lord. He suffered quite a lot and was finally martyred, but to him it was all worth it.

Our willingness to deny ourselves in the pursuit of Christ and his kingdom indicates how much we treasure the rewards God offers.

Likewise, our unwillingness to sacrifice in the here and now for what is promised in eternity means we probably do not even believe it is true, at least not at a “gut” level. Or perhaps we simply don’t care. I am not sure which is worse.

The following passage is a sad biblical example of this in operation.

Now Jacob cooked a stew; and Esau came in from the field, and he was weary. 30 And Esau said to Jacob, “Please feed me with that same red stew, for I am weary.” Therefore his name was called Edom. 31 But Jacob said, “Sell me your birthright as of this day.” 32 And Esau said, “Look, I am about to die; so what is this birthright to me?” 33 Then Jacob said, “Swear to me as of this day.” So he swore to him, and sold his birthright to Jacob. 34 And Jacob gave Esau bread and stew of lentils; then he ate and drank, arose, and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright.  Genesis 25:29–34 (NKJV)

Paul probably had this passage in mind when he wrote the following:

For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: 19 whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame—who set their mind on earthly things.  Philippians 3:18–19 (NKJV)

Jesus taught his followers that we should perform acts of love because of the attached reward.

He said also to the man who had invited him, “When you give a dinner or a banquet, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, lest they also invite you in return and you be repaid. 13  But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, 14  and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the just.” Luke 14:12-14 (ESV)  

Jesus not only taught this principle: he lived by it. As he approached his crucifixion, he weighed the price he was about to pay against the reward that lay ahead in heaven. The author of the Letter to the Hebrews informs us that Jesus endured the cross because of the joy that awaited him at the end. (Hebrews 12:2)

It is a good practice to weigh the cost of serving God against the joy of our heavenly reward.

Every time we choose between immediate gratification and the reward that God promises to those who love and serve him, we please and glorify God and become spiritually richer. Otherwise, we put ourselves in danger of becoming like the rich fool who lost everything while trying to hoard his wealth.

Then He spoke a parable to them, saying: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully. 17 And he thought within himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops?’ 18 So he said, ‘I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods. 19 And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry.” ’ 20 But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?’ 21 “So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”  Luke 12:16–21 (NKJV)

There is an intense battle associated with the choice to live for heavenly reward. Only those who have faith will be able to choose well.

The world system, flesh-oriented people, and the devil will tell us that expending our lives for Jesus is a waste.

When the woman poured the expensive bottle of perfume upon Jesus’ feet, she was rebuked by worldly minded disciples.

And being in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper, as He sat at the table, a woman came having an alabaster flask of very costly oil of spikenard. Then she broke the flask and poured it on His head. 4 But there were some who were indignant among themselves, and said, “Why was this fragrant oil wasted? 5 For it might have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor.” And they criticized her sharply. 6 But Jesus said, “Let her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a good work for Me. 7 For you have the poor with you always, and whenever you wish you may do them good; but Me you do not have always. 8 She has done what she could. She has come beforehand to anoint My body for burial. 9 Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her.”  Mark 14:3–9 (NKJV)

Nothing we expend upon Jesus out of devotion and worship to him is ever a waste.

It is important that love be our motivation; otherwise, our sacrifice may be in vain.

And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.  1 Corinthians 13:3 (NKJV)

Over our lifetimes we demonstrate whether God and his promises mean more to us than what this world has to offer. We do not want to wrongly invest our lives in things that do not matter to God. Right now, we still can put God first. There will come a day when it will be too late to make changes, as it was for Esau.

Make sure that no one is immoral or godless like Esau, who traded his birthright as the firstborn son for a single meal. 17  You know that afterward, when he wanted his father’s blessing, he was rejected. It was too late for repentance, even though he begged with bitter tears. Hebrews 12:16-17 (NLT)  

But when we do choose for God, Jesus promises a sure and lasting reward.

Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, 30  who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life. Mark 10:29-30 (ESV) 

The apostle Peter, who heard Jesus say these words, took it to heart and lived accordingly.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4  to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you... 1 Peter 1:3-4 (ESV)  

Should we be rewarded for serving God? Yes, according to Jesus. Even though our ability to serve God comes through grace and is a gift from God, our choice to serve him is so priceless to God that he celebrates it by pouring out even more blessings upon us.

We cannot overestimate how much God appreciates people who lay down their lives in service to him.

For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because of your name as followers of Christ, truly I say to you, he will not lose his reward.  Mark 9:41 (NASB95)

God is extravagant. He will richly reward us beyond our imagination.

But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.  Ephesians 2:4–7 (NKJV)

What Will These Rewards Look Like?

It is impossible for us to comprehend the wonders and glory that await us in eternity.

That is what the Scriptures mean when they say, “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.”  1 Corinthians 2:9 (NLT)

In another verse it compares variations in reward to how stars differ in brightness, which is an obvious reference to our somehow reflecting God’s glory in varying degrees.

And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, Some to everlasting life, Some to shame and everlasting contempt. 3 Those who are wise shall shine Like the brightness of the firmament, And those who turn many to righteousness Like the stars forever and ever.  Daniel 12:2–3 (NKJV)
There are also celestial bodies and terrestrial bodies; but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. 41 There is one glory of the sun, another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for one star differs from another star in glory. 42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. The body is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption.  1 Corinthians 15:40–42 (NKJV)

Jesus spoke of heavenly reward in terms of how a master would repay a servant for being faithful.

His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’  Matthew 25:23 (NKJV)

The idea here is that being faithful in carrying out responsibilities gains a reward of praise from the master and added responsibility. This would not be appealing if we are lazy or irresponsible. But for those who find joy in service, it is attractive. In contrast, according to the Lord, lazy servants will be punished. (Matthew 25:26) In heaven, we will have responsibilities and work to do, it appears.

Heavenly reward is compared to an inheritance in several places in the Bible.

All the nations will be gathered in his presence, and he will separate the people as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will place the sheep at his right hand and the goats at his left. 34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world.  Matthew 25:32–34 (NLT)

Peter said this inheritance is ours because of the new birth through which we have become children of God.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.  1 Peter 1:3–5 (NKJV) 

Paul agreed with Peter and added that the Holy Spirit guarantees it.

In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.  Ephesians 1:13–14 (NKJV)

In another place, however, it seems that our obedience will influence our inheritance.

And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ. 25 But he who does wrong will be repaid for what he has done, and there is no partiality.  Colossians 3:23–25 (NKJV)

One of God’s unchangeable principles is the law of sowing and reaping. We gain an inheritance because of what Christ did for us, but that inheritance will be measured to us based on our obedience to God.

In God’s mysterious economy, his sovereignty never dispenses with our need to act responsibly. Grace never precludes obedience. In fact, it is quite the opposite. Grace leads to good works, and grace produces obedience.

For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, 12 teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, 13 looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.  Titus 2:11–14 (NKJV)

Those who serve God with a whole heart in the pursuit of God’s honor and glory will store up for themselves eternal unfading reward. Those who belong to Christ but do not choose heavenly riches, will still be saved, but without acquiring what could have been theirs.

According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. 11 For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 13 each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. 14 If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.  1 Corinthians 3:10–15 (NKJV)

The Bible makes it clear that in either case, full of rewards or suffering loss, heaven will be a place of eternal joy. I suppose once we get past the judgment and meting out of rewards, we all will be simply amazed and overcome at the mercy, grace, and glory of God. There will be no room at all for any sort of regret or sadness.

I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. 4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.”  Revelation 21:3–4 (NLT)

The sure conclusion is that whatever the cost associated with honoring and obeying God here on earth will all be worth it.