Heavenly rewards

When looking at rewards what needs to be noted first is that the Father and the Son ARE the rewards. Abiding in the truth is the way of attainment. That applies now and continues into eternity. Abiding in the truth is concerned with the person of Christ and not deviating to influences of heresies regarding Him. And in extension that goes to the Father. Living an abiding life is what prepares for the further rewards. I don't think there's much more to it than that but in effect that is everything. A life of abiding.

I agree with what @~Cassia~ said, and would only add that it seems to me that the key to it all is Luke 9:23-24. We need to focus on Him, on others, denying ourselves, and worry less about what reward we might have, and more on how to glorify and love Him (and in direct result, our neighbors).

Ben Collyer said:

I have become quite anxious to lay up treasures for myself in heaven, seeing as this life is short. but I cant seem to find out what are the pre requisites for the different rewards in heaven? the bible barely seems to speak on the nature of these rewards let alone how to to get them

so how do I get them? what are they?

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Great topic btw. Future rewards can be found in some of these verses Matthew 5:12, Matthew 16:27, 1 Corinthians 3:8 , 1 Corinthians 3:13-14, Hebrews 10:35-36 , Revelation 11:18, Revelation 22:12
There's great advise in them about not losing confidence etc.

2 John 9
Being careful in the teachings of Christ so you don’t lose out on what Christ in you and you in Him worked so diligently in together to get every reward you have coming to you.
Anyone who gets so progressive in his thinking that he walks out on the teaching of Christ, walks out on God. But whoever stays with the teaching, stays faithful to both the Father and the Son.

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Ben Collyer said:

I have become quite anxious to lay up treasures for myself in heaven, seeing as this life is short. but I cant seem to find out what are the pre requisites for the different rewards in heaven? the bible barely seems to speak on the nature of these rewards let alone how to to get them

so how do I get them? what are they?

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You cannot do anything by yourself. The only way to Heaven is via Christ. One must follow His teachings.

I for one deviate very much from His teachings as I am battling against the same old nasty sins.

Forget about looking for them. Follow Jesus and you will have your reward.

Ben Collyer said:

I have become quite anxious to lay up treasures for myself in heaven, seeing as this life is short. but I cant seem to find out what are the pre requisites for the different rewards in heaven? the bible barely seems to speak on the nature of these rewards let alone how to to get them

so how do I get them? what are they?

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Chapter 3 of Philippians
Revelation 2:10
Chapter 22 of Revelation
1 Peter 5:1-4
2 Timothy 1-8
1 Thessalonians 2:10-20
1 Corinthians 9:24-27
1 John 3:2

There's another aspect of rewards also. ie: Those who want their rewards right now. Like Esua they have no interest in the inheritance promised them beyond instant gratification right now.

Ben Collyer said:

I have become quite anxious to lay up treasures for myself in heaven, seeing as this life is short. but I cant seem to find out what are the pre requisites for the different rewards in heaven? the bible barely seems to speak on the nature of these rewards let alone how to to get them

so how do I get them? what are they?

Click to expand...

Matthew 5:19 Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

It seems apparent that the "greatest" in Heaven will be those who have the greatest reward.
What are the commands?

Well, some think they are just to love the Father and to love others and that those "new" love laws have done away with the other commands. First, those laws were already in the "Old" Testament, including the law to love our enemies. 2nd Have the laws to not commit murder, to not steal, to not bow down to other gods, etc. been done away with?

Here are the commandments given at Mt. Sinai, not exactly what people always have been taught, if you examine them carefully. In the Bible we are told that "YHWH changes not" and that He "will not alter" what goes out of His mouth. At Mt. Sinai He audibly spoke the 10 Commandments to the terrified Israelites below. Notice the longest commandment, regarding the Sabbath. The Sabbath meant 7th day and begins Fri. eve and ends Sat. eve. (We can rest or worship on any day, but we have work restrictions on the Sabbath.)

Exodus 20
1 And God spake all these words, saying,
2 I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.
3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:
5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;
6 And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.
7 Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.
8 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.
9 Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:
10 But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:
11 For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.
12 Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.
13 Thou shalt not kill.
14 Thou shalt not commit adultery.
15 Thou shalt not steal.
16 Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.
17 Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's.
18 And all the people saw the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw it, they removed, and stood afar off.

Ben Collyer said:

I have become quite anxious to lay up treasures for myself in heaven, seeing as this life is short. but I cant seem to find out what are the pre requisites for the different rewards in heaven? the bible barely seems to speak on the nature of these rewards let alone how to to get them

so how do I get them? what are they?

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Whether someone is a saint or former atheist who converted to Christianity on his deathbed, the reward is all the same: eternal salvation in heaven. Basically, a monk won't get any better of a reward than a Christian who often struggled with sin in life. Indeed, salvation is the greatest gift, and all who repent and believe are worthy of receiving it.

When Jesus talked about storing up treasures in heaven, he didn't mean to say there is a reward system in the afterlife for good Christian conduct while on earth. It's just a metaphor.

Is heaven not enough for you?

mkdrive2 said:

Is heaven not enough for you?

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The Savior Himself taught us to be concerned about our reward in Heaven:

But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.

Further He warned us that some would get to Heaven but have no reward.

ambc said:

Whether someone is a saint or former atheist who converted to Christianity on his deathbed, the reward is all the same: eternal salvation in heaven. Basically, a monk won't get any better of a reward than a Christian who often struggled with sin in life. Indeed, salvation is the greatest gift, and all who repent and believe are worthy of receiving it.

When Jesus talked about storing up treasures in heaven, he didn't mean to say there is a reward system in the afterlife for good Christian conduct while on earth. It's just a metaphor.

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If it was just a metaphor, why did He say some would have no reward in Heaven? Rhetorical Q.

ambc said:

Whether someone is a saint or former atheist who converted to Christianity on his deathbed, the reward is all the same: eternal salvation in heaven. Basically, a monk won't get any better of a reward than a Christian who often struggled with sin in life. Indeed, salvation is the greatest gift, and all who repent and believe are worthy of receiving it.

When Jesus talked about storing up treasures in heaven, he didn't mean to say there is a reward system in the afterlife for good Christian conduct while on earth. It's just a metaphor.

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God has one offer for all and that's the offer of eternal life. There's many crowns otoh to be gained. Not the crown that the elders hand over in Revelation either. Those are from the angels that are stepping down. Christ isn't an indian giver (pardon the pun)
( Casting crowns )

Ben Collyer said:

I have become quite anxious to lay up treasures for myself in heaven, seeing as this life is short. but I cant seem to find out what are the pre requisites for the different rewards in heaven? the bible barely seems to speak on the nature of these rewards let alone how to to get them

so how do I get them? what are they?

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Well, good for you that you want to store treasures in heaven. It seems that all the people around me want to hoard possessions and wealth down here on earth as if this life will go on for eternity. But you are mistaken that there is hardly any scripture that speaks about these rewards. I will post here a 4 minute video explaining them briefly. But its my humble suggestion that instead of focusing on the rewards try to live life righteously and out of pure love for others. I think that will fetch the greatest reward for you. God Bless.

LoricaLady said:

Further He warned us that some would get to Heaven but have no reward.

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Did he really? Can you point me to where he did that? Thank you.

mkdrive2 said:

Did he really? Can you point me to where he did that? Thank you.

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Your original question was "Is Heaven not enough for you?" It seems we are to aspire to more than Heaven.

"Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven." This indicates rewards are given in Heaven based on actions. He is not saying those people will not get to Heaven, only that they miss out on a reward for being self glorifying.

"For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done.."

" He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor."

"For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil."

These verses, and many like them, indicate that our level of Heavenly reward is based on what we do in the body. That makes sense. Why should someone who has done all for the Savior get the same reward as someone who has spent most of his or her spare time watching t.v. and Netflix, for example?

As for having no reward, that is how I read the following verses. If you disagree, that is okay. You get your opinion too, of course.

From 1 Corinthians 3 from the Amplified Bible

13 The work of each [one] will become [plainly, openly] known (shown for what it is); for the day [of Christ] will disclose and declare it, because it will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test and critically appraise the character and worth of the work each person has done.

14 If the work which any person has built on this Foundation [any product of his efforts whatever] survives [this test], he will get his reward.

15 But if any person’s work is burned up [under the test], he will suffer the loss [of it all, losing his reward], though he himself will be saved, but only as [one who has passed] through fire.

I did misremember when I recalled that it was Messiah who said this.

(for me anyway] I do not look for rewards, rather only have "the hope of salvation", and that is enough: I would agree with the Psalmist that "I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God.." (Psalms 84:10). The greatest virtue in Christianity is humility.

lastofall said:

(for me anyway] I do not look for rewards, rather only have "the hope of salvation", and that is enough: I would agree with the Psalmist that "I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God.." (Psalms 84:10). The greatest virtue in Christianity is humility.

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Yes, but Messiah wants you to have all the reward you can get. He wants the very best for you.

LoricaLady said:

Yes, but Messiah wants you to have all the reward you can get. He wants the very best for you.

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The op's concern is how to achieve that. Humility is the yoke that is shared with Christ. Learn of Him for He is meek.@lastofall has the right formula to seek first that Kingdom with Him thru being humble (not as the world knows humble) and all things will be added.

LoricaLady said:

If it was just a metaphor, why did He say some would have no reward in Heaven? Rhetorical Q.

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The reward of heaven is the reward in heaven. To put it another way, salvation is the reward. And it is awarded to everyone who believes in Jesus' sacrifice and repents of their sins.

If you think good Christian conduct on earth will be rewarded with material things in heaven, please explain what that entails.