“We’ve been deceived into thinking works is a dirty word. Not true. God condemns works done to earn salvation and works done to impress others. But our Lord enthusiastically commends works done for the right reasons. Immediately after saying our salvation is ‘not by works,’ Paul adds: ‘For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do’ (Eph 2:8-10).
God has a lifetime of good works for each of us to do. Many of these works he intends to do with our money and possessions. He will reward us according to whether or not we do them. ‘God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them’ (Heb 6:10). The verses that follow in Hebrews 6 tell us that if we are to inherit God’s promised blessings we must not become lazy but diligent in our God-given works.
God gives us eternal rewards for doing good works (Eph 6:8; Rom 2:6, 10), persevering under persecution (Luke 6:22-23), showing compassion to the needy (Luke 14:13-14), treating our enemies kindly (Luke 6:35), serving him faithfully (Rev. 11:18), denying ourselves (Matt 16:24-27; Matt 19:29), enduring difficult circumstances while trusting in God (Heb. 10:34-36), and living a life of godliness (2 Peter 3:11-14). And when we extend hospitality and give a meal to those too poor or incapacitated to pay us back, Christ promises, ‘you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous’ (Luke 14:14).
Crowns are a common symbol of ruling power, though they may symbolize other rewards as well. Five crowns are mentioned in the New Testament:
1. The Crown of Life – given for faithfulness to Christ in persecution or martyrdom (James 1:12; Rev 2:10).
2. The Incorruptible Crown – given for determination, discipline, and victory in the Christian life (1 Cor 9:24-25).
3. The Crown of Rejoicing – given for pouring oneself into others in evangelism and discipleship (1 Thess 2:19; Phil 4:1)
4. The Crown of Glory – given for faithfully representing Christ in a position of spiritual leadership (1 Pet 5:1-4).
5. The Crown of Righteousness – given for joyfully purifying and readying oneself to meet Christ at his return (2 Tim 4:6-8).
There’s nothing in this list that suggests it is exhaustive. There may be innumerable crowns and types of crowns and rewards unrelated to crowns. But all are graciously given by the Lord Jesus in response to the faithful efforts of the believer.
These crowns bring glory to Christ as they are laid before his feet (Rev 4:10), showing that our rewards are given not merely for our recognition, but for God’s glory. Although God’s glory is the highest reason for any action, Scripture sees no contradiction between God’s eternal glory and our eternal good. On the contrary, glorifying God will always result in our greatest eternal good. Likewise, pursuing our eternal good, as he commands us to do, will always glorify God. False humility that says, ‘I want no reward,’ effectively means, ‘I want nothing to lay at Christ’s feet to bring him glory.’
We are to guard our crowns carefully (Rev 3:11). Why? Because we can be disqualified from receiving them (1 Cor 3:15). They can be taken from us (Matt 25:28-29). We can seek our rewards from men, thereby forfeiting them from God (Matt. 6:5-6). John warns, ‘Watch out that you do not lose what you have worked for, but that you may be rewarded fully’ (2 John 8).
What we do in this life is of eternal importance. You and I will never have another chance to move the hand of God through prayer to heal a hurting soul, share Christ with one who can be saved from hell, care for the sick, give a cup of water to the thirsty, comfort the dying, invest money to help the helpless, rescue the unborn, further God’s kingdom, open our homes, and share our clothes and food with the poor and needy.
If we really believed that what we do with our money and possessions – and everything else – will have an irreversible effect on eternity…wouldn’t we live differently?”
Alcorn, Money, Possessions and Eternity, pgs. 118, 119, 121, 124, 125)