Do Rewards Exist? Some question the existence of rewards for the believer. Some feel it is selfish or materialistic to work for or expect rewards. Does rewards mean some people will have them and others will not? Does rewards set levels or graduations in heaven where one believer will outrank another? Are there qualities to eternal life?  Can someone have a better standing and position in eternity? Isn’t the kingdom of God all about equality? Isn’t heaven suppose to be perfect?  If someone else has something I want, won’t I  be miserable.  If I don’t get any rewards I will feel like a second-rate believer for all of eternity? What are the rewards? How do I get rewards? How do rewards compare with grace? Aren’t rewards simply a way of God, or men, bribing us to do good? Are not all our righteous deeds were like filthy rags before God? Some people consider it humble not to seek rewards from God. There are the thoughts that believers will never be judged by God or that we will be judged after death for our sins and properly punished.   The Foundational Principles Rewards are available to the believer from God as recognition of that believer being faithful in service to the Lord.   Points To Consider The believer who has been saved for many years and lives a faithful life will have more opportunity to build up rewards in heaven than one who was saved at the last minute or one who was saved early but never walked in obedience. Rewards are not given out when you die but after the rapture at the reward seat of Christ.  The reason for this is that a person’s work is not completed at their death.  The apostle Paul is dead but his rewards are still building as his work in the earth continues through his writings and the deposit he made here.  The same as Lewis Sperry Chafer, the founder of Dallas Theological Seminary.  He has passed on into eternity but the work he established, the people he influenced, and the books that he wrote are still being used in the church today. It is possible to spend your life thinking you are serving the Lord but to get no rewards. (1 Cor.3:15; 9:27)  Receiving rewards is based on actions with:  a.  Pure or sincere motivation  i.  To do the right thing for the wrong reason is zero  b.  Serving God in the truth  i.  To be sincere and pure in motives but to do the wrong   thing is zero.  ii.  Rewards are a matter of the heart and the head.  iii.  Rewards are based on knowledge of God’s will   and a heart committed to that will.   The Protestant Problem The Protestant Reformation in the 1500’s resulted in a rebellion against the Roman Catholic church.  The Protestants emphasized salvation by faith in Christ.  Rightly so.  This doctrine has been stressed and still needs to be stressed since many still do not understand that salvation is not achieved by works of man.  As always the pendulum swings to the extreme before it heads back to the middle.  In this case the focus on works and the rewards that come with it resulted in them being ignored.  When a truth is ignored ignorance occurs.  Where there is ignorance people’s lives are destroyed in that area.  (Hosea 4:6)   Services That Result in Rewards 1.        Persevering under trial  James 1:12 2.        Diligently seeking God  Hebrews 11:6 3.        Martyrdom (Rev. 2:10) 4.        Faithfully doing God’s will  (2 Timothy 4:8) 5.        Looking forward to Christ’s return (2 Timothy 4:8) 6.        Faithfully serving as a Pastor (1 Peter 5:4) 7.        Leading people to a saving faith in Christ (1 Thes. 2:19-20) 8.        Faithful stewardship (1 Cor. 4:1-5) 9.        Acts of kindness (Gal. 6:10) 10.        Hospitality (Matt. 10:40-42) A Study of Good Works Men have a sin nature and produce sin.  All their works (from that sin nature) are filthy rags. The saved man receives:   a.  A new nature  b.  A plan from God  c.  The Holy Spirit  d.  Good works to do  When the saved man walks in the Spirit he will be led into the plan God has for him.  During his life he will come across and be led into the “good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”  (Ep. 2:10)  That man will execute those good works from the new nature  he received at the point of salvation. This born again man, who is walking in obedience, will receive rewards from God for having done the things God created him and re-created him, to do.   Only a born again man can achieve these rewards.  Only the good deeds done by the power of the Spirit will be rewarded. If the “good works” have been prepared  in eternity then the rewards have also been prepared.  They are ready.  Are you?