Reward, for God's people

God gives blessings to his people who serve him faithfully and who suffer for him. God himself is his people's greatest reward. The fulness will be theirs at the coming of Jesus Christ.

God promises to reward his people

For faithful service

1 Corinthians 3:12–15; Colossians 3:23–24 See also Exodus 32:28–29; Numbers 14:30, Numbers 25:10–13; Isaiah 40:10, Isaiah 62:11; Daniel 12:3; Matthew 10:41–42, Matthew 25:28–29; Mark 9:41

If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, or straw, his workmanship will be evident, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will prove the quality of each man’s work. If what he has built survives, he will receive a reward. If it is burned up, he will suffer loss. He himself will be saved, but only as if through the flames.

Whatever you do, work at it with your whole being, as for the Lord and not for men, because you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as your reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.

In and through self-denial

Matthew 19:29 parallel Mark 10:29–30 See also Matthew 16:24–26, Matthew 19:21; Luke 18:28–30; 1 Corinthians 9:26–27; Hebrews 10:33–34, Hebrews 11:36–40

And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for the sake of My name will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life.

At the coming of Jesus Christ

Matthew 19:27–28 See also Matthew 16:27, Matthew 25:31–36; Luke 14:12–14; 2 Timothy 4:7–8; 1 Peter 5:4; Revelation 22:12

“Look,” Peter replied, “we have left everything to follow You. What then will there be for us?” Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, in the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on His glorious throne, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

God himself is his people's greatest reward

Genesis 15:1 See also Deuteronomy 32:9; Psalm 73:26; Revelation 21:3

After these events, the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision: “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward.”

The certainty of future reward is an incentive to holiness

Philippians 3:12–14 See also Hebrews 10:35, Hebrews 11:6, Hebrews 11:24–26; 2 John 1:8; Revelation 2:10

Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize of God’s heavenly calling in Christ Jesus.