It was an astonishing thing to hear. The Church member said that a man with whom he had attended Church several years ago had asserted: “Nowhere does the Bible say there is a reward for works!” Not only did this man, an elder, not believe as he once did—he had forgotten what he once believed. But what does the Bible actually say about “taking it with you?” Is there a reward for works? Do our works in this life make a difference in the Kingdom of God, or do they mean nothing after we die?
The Bible teaches that in a sense, you can take it with you, but what you can take with you might not be what you expect. In the world, many are confused about this important subject; however, the Church of God need not be.
God’s Economics Are Different
People sometimes chuckle over what is called The Iron Law of Distribution, which states, “Them that has, gets.” But Jesus Christ refuted and confounded the carnal mind when He taught that, in effect, “They that give, have.” Understanding Christ’s teaching about this is a key to understanding how God rewards the works of His children.
If a reward is necessarily for works, then why does the Bible talk about unearned salvation through faith? First of all, we must always remember in any discussion about good works that it is by grace—unearned pardon—that we have salvation, not by works. “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:8–10).
Eternal Life Cannot Be Earned
God reveals right and wrong to humanity through His Divine Law as summarized in the Ten Commandments, and the Bible says that “sin is the transgression of the law” (1 John 3:4, KJV). We cannot repent of sin and break God’s commandments at the same time. But all our repentance from sin, all our law keeping and all our good works cannot save us, because it cannot remove the guilt of our past sins. Only the shed blood of Jesus Christ can do that. There is no question that God commands Christians to repent (Acts 17:30) and also to do good works (Ephesians 2:10). But even with a righteous life full of good works, we do not have the power to cleanse ourselves of the guilt of our past sins or to give ourselves eternal life. Only God has that to give. Christ’s sacrifice cleanses us, reconciles us to the Father, and makes it possible for us to receive the gift of eternal life at the coming of Christ. Good works are the operation of our active, living faith and a truly repentant life. As the Apostle Paul explained to Titus: “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit.... This is a faithful saying, and these things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men” (Titus 3:5, 8).
Jesus Affirmed a Reward for Works
Why then do we say that there is a reward for works? Because Jesus said so! Notice what He instructed His disciples: “For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works” (Matthew 16:27). He further instructed them: “But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Highest. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil” (Luke 6:35). The Apostle John cautioned the Church: “Look to yourselves, that we do not lose those things we worked for, but that we may receive a full reward” (2 John 8). Jesus Himself explained where our reward is kept and when our reward is received: “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven” (Matthew 5:11–12). He said: “And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work” (Revelation 22:12). Christ brings our reward at His coming.
The Bible unquestionably teaches that there is a reward for works, but nowhere does it say that the reward for works is our salvation. What then is our reward? Extra halos? A harp?
What Reward Does God Promise?
Jesus’ disciples asked Him this same question, wanting to know which one would be rewarded the most. He answered. “But you are those who have continued with Me in My trials. And I bestow upon you a kingdom, just as My Father bestowed one upon Me, that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel” (Luke 22:28–30). He explicitly promised them offices in His Kingdom!
Jesus further explained the connection between reward and office in the Kingdom in His parable of the pounds or minas: “And he said to him, ‘Well done, good servant; because you were faithful in very little, have authority over ten cities’” (Luke 19:17). Similarly, the servant who had earned five for the one he was given was made a ruler over five cities. But the man who hid his mina and gained nothing from it was severely criticized and had his mina taken from him. Jesus made it clear that He knows that those who have the character and love of God to be faithful in little will also have the same character and love to be faithful in much.
And Jesus has much for the Sons of God to do in His Kingdom: “Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever” (Revelation 1:5–6). “To him that overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcome and sat down with My Father on His throne” (Revelation 3:21). Christ will “have made us kings and priests to our God; and we shall reign on earth” (Revelation 5:10).
This hardly sounds like Jesus plans for His brethren to stand around on clouds forever. Rather, Jesus Christ will establish a Kingdom on earth and will give those who overcome to the end rulership with Him. According to your Bible, this is His reward for His resurrected and immortal brethren.
Put simply, the Bible teaches that obtaining eternal life and entering God’s Kingdom come only as free gifts by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. But what one does after entering the Kingdom of God is by reward according to works.
It is not as if God owes us anything for living fruitful lives in this age. Rather, God’s Kingdom is for the benefit of the whole world. He is pleased to give it to us, and said so: “Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom” (Luke 12:32). But there is another reason that God tells us that He rewards our works with offices in His Kingdom.
Character in the Kingdom
In addition to a reward for works, there is something else that we “take with us” into God’s Kingdom—our character. When Christ comes, God’s children will be resurrected (or transformed if they are still living) and they will “put on immortality” (1 Corinthians 15:53–54). Christ will “transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working of which He is able to subdue all things to Himself” (Philippians 3:21). God will change what we are but not who we are. The Bible makes it very clear that we must be transformed inwardly in this life, and for an important reason.
In Luke 22:28–30, Jesus told the disciples that they would be given authority in His Kingdom, but the circumstances of His comments are interesting. Verses 24–27 state: “But there was also rivalry among them, as to which of them should be considered greatest. And He said to them, ‘The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those who exercise authority over them are called benefactors. But not so among you; on the contrary, he who is greatest among you, let him be as the younger, and he who governs as he who serves. For who is greater, he who sits at the table, or he who serves? Yet I am among you as the One who serves.” He then promised them “thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.”
Jesus pointed out that carnal people seek power for their own benefit and exercise authority for their own service. But the spiritual mind exercises authority for the service of others. Unfortunately, our carnal natures do not suddenly vanish completely upon baptism and receipt of the Holy Spirit. God’s Spirit works in us to transform us inwardly and cause us to grow in the stature of Jesus Christ. That is why the Apostle Paul said, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service, and to not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind” (Romans 12:1–2). Among other things, this means learning the principle of servant leadership and having it incorporated into our very natures as it is in Jesus Christ’s very nature. This is a process that is made possible only by the indwelling of God’s Spirit. When we use whatever means, ability or authority we have to do service for others in love and outgoing concern, these good works demonstrate and develop Christ’s character and life in us. What we do changes us. These personal characteristics that Christ has and that He is building in us, enable us to hold offices in God’s Kingdom—which are actually positions of service. Those who are “least” now—the most serving—will be greatest in authority in God’s Kingdom. Jesus set a high standard for those “good and faithful servants” who will be “kings and priests” in His Kingdom. This is why He taught that if one were faithful in small services now, then that person would have the demonstrated ability and character to engage in great service in His Kingdom. God’s reward for good works is actually a position of service, and we “take it with us” in our own characters as transformed by God’s Spirit.