by Shawnte Pierce

Created on: February 02, 2009

"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." - Matthew 6:19-21 NIV

At some point in our careers we work towards a promotion. Maybe we want the promotion for the status, power, wealth or all three, regardless of the reason we make it a point to do what is required to make it happen. So why is it that we do not seek a promotion with regards to God?

Get that look off of your face, I meant to ask the above question. We are rewarded in heaven according to our works here on earth. Just accepting Christ as our Savior and keeping ourselves from sinning will grant us the reward of eternal life, but there is much more to be had.

Our works here on earth will be evaluated later by God. We are to be faithful with specific things God has entrusted us with (Matthew 25:23). However our most important responsibility is to the building the Kingdom of God while we are here on earth.

We are commissioned by Christ to make disciples, in other words to make students of others in the ways of God. The way to make a student out of person is to teach them. We teach by three basic ways:

1. Teaching and making accessible to others God's Word. (1 Corinthians 3:8)

2. While in our present bodies, living our lives according to the example set forth by Christ. (2 Corinthians 5:10)

3. By our service to each other. (Ephesians 6:8)

The verses I gave at the end of each correlate to our reward for each of these basic things. We are not told specifically what our duties or work in heaven will be other than praising God, but the Bible does imply there is a hierarchy for our eternal rewards. Jesus himself tells us twice in Revelation that we are repaid according to what we do. (Revelation 2:23; 22:12)

With this mind, shouldn't we strive to achieve the highest reward we can in eternity? Quite frankly if we love the LORD the way a lot of us claim we do, working towards a higher reward should not be a huge effort. With our focus on God our works will be a delight to us. Our work will be from a pure heart and a loving spirit so that when Jesus searches our hearts He too will delight in our works.

"Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what they have done." Revelation 22:12 TNIV

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