The Bible has a lot to say about rewards and the importance of living in a way that stores up treasure in heaven rather than only pursuing earthly rewards. Here is an overview of some of the key Bible verses that discuss rewards:
Matthew 6:1-4 – Giving to the Needy
“Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”
This passage teaches that we should not give to the needy simply for the praise of other people. If that is our motivation, then any earthly praise we receive from others will be our only reward. Instead, we ought to give generously and secretly, trusting that God will see our giving and reward it.
Matthew 5:11-12 – Reward for Being Persecuted
“Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
Jesus promises that when we face persecution because of our faith in him, we can rejoice knowing that God has an abundant reward stored up for us in heaven. Our earthly suffering is temporary, but the reward we will receive from God for enduring it faithfully is eternal.
Matthew 6:19-21 – Treasures in Heaven
“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
Rather than living for earthly rewards like wealth, possessions, and prestige, Jesus commands us to store up eternal rewards in heaven through righteous living. Our heart’s desires are revealed by what we spend our time pursuing and prizing.
Luke 6:35 – Reward for Loving Enemies
“But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil.”
Showing undeserved love and kindness to enemies demonstrates our trust in God to reward such actions. He calls us to live generously even to those who don’t deserve it.
Mark 9:41 – Reward for Serving Jesus
“For truly, I say to you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ will by no means lose his reward.”
Jesus emphasizes that even small acts of service done because of our love for Christ will be rewarded by God. No act of obedience in Jesus’ name will fail to receive its eternal blessing.
1 Corinthians 3:8 – Reward According to Our Labor
“He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor.”
In contexts like ministry and building up the church, God rewards our work based on our faithfulness and effort, not necessarily visible earthly results. Our labor in the Lord is not in vain (1 Cor. 15:58).
Colossians 3:23-24 – Reward from the Lord
“Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.”
This passage broadens the principle of rewards to anything we do, telling us we should work with all our hearts as serving Christ. Our ultimate reward comes from the Lord.
Hebrews 11:6 – Reward for Faith in God
“And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.”
God richly rewards those who earnestly seek Him in faith. We can come to him because we know He is a generous rewarder of all who draw near to Him.
Revelation 22:12 – Reward When Christ Returns
“Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done.”
When Christ returns, He will bring reward with Him to “repay each one for what he has done.” Our deeds in this life, whether good or evil, store up eternal blessing or judgment.
Matthew 5:12 – Great Reward in Heaven
“Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
For all who faithfully endure mistreatment and persecution for following Christ, a divinely great reward awaits in the kingdom of heaven.
1 Corinthians 3:14 – Reward for Effective Ministry
“If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward.”
There are eternal rewards for those whose ministry work in building the church has lasting impact. Our service matters forever when built on Christ.
Matthew 10:41-42 – Reward for Receiving God’s Messengers
“The one who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and the one who receives a righteous person because he is a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward. And whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward.”
Receiving and caring for those whom God sends receives eternal blessing from God. Even small acts of care for fellow believers out of love for Christ are rewarded.
Proverbs 11:18 – Reward for Righteousness
“The wicked earns deceptive wages, but one who sows righteousness gets a sure reward.”
Unlike fleeting unrighteous gain, living rightly according to God’s wisdom ensures an eternal reward from the Lord that will not disappoint.
Psalm 19:11 – Reward for Keeping God’s Commands
“Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.”
Obedience to God’s commands leads to eternal blessing. His ways lead us to fullness of joy when we walk in them.
Hebrews 10:35 – Reward for Persevering
“Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward.”
We can persevere in faith through trials because we trust God to abundantly reward our steadfastness. Our hope empowers endurance.
Colossians 3:24 – Inheritance as Reward
“Knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.”
Our eternal reward is a promised inheritance from the Lord when we serve and obey the true Christ.It is graciously given, not earned by works.
Revelation 14:13 – Reward for Dying in the Lord
“And I heard a voice from heaven saying, ‘Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.’ ‘Blessed indeed,’ says the Spirit, ‘that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them!'”
Those who die trusting in Christ are blessed to rest from earthly labors and will be rewarded for deeds done in the Lord.
2 John 1:8 – Full Reward
“Watch yourselves, so that you may not lose what we have worked for, but may win a full reward.”
If we don’t watch out for doctrinal and moral error, we risk forfeiting the “full reward” that comes from enduring obedience to Christ until the end.
1 Corinthians 9:17-18 – Reward for Preaching Gospel
“For if I do this of my own will, I have a reward, but if not of my own will, I am still entrusted with a stewardship. What then is my reward? That in my preaching I may present the gospel free of charge, so as not to make full use of my right in the gospel.”
Paul sacrificed earthly rights like payment for ministry so that his reward would be the joy of freely preaching the gospel. Our rewards are often eternal versions of what we valued most.
1 Timothy 5:18 – Reward for Labor
“For the Scripture says, ‘You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain,’ and, ‘The laborer deserves his wages.'”
Those who labor for the spread of the gospel and the growth of the church are worthy of reward for their spiritual work. Financial provision is one form of reward.
Psalm 58:11 – God Judges the Earth
“Mankind will say, ‘Surely there is a reward for the righteous; surely there is a God who judges the earth.'”
The eternal reward of the righteous ultimately testifies to the justice of God as the one who judges rightly. He will deal fairly with all people in the end.
Hebrews 11:26 – Reward Greater than World’s Treasures
“He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward.”
Moses valued following Christ more than Egyptian treasures because he looked ahead to the eternal reward from God. Worldly rewards are lesser and fleeting.
Ruth 2:12 – Full Reward from the Lord
“The Lord repay you for what you have done, and a full reward be given you by the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge!”
As Ruth left her homeland to follow the Lord, she was commended for seeking refuge in God, who would fully reward her faithfulness.
Proverbs 13:13 – Reward for Revering God’s Commands
“Whoever despises the word brings destruction on himself, but he who reveres the commandment will be rewarded.”
Accepting and obeying God’s word leads to reward, while rejecting it brings self-inflicted destruction and no eternal blessing.
Psalm 127:3 – Children a Reward
“Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb a reward.”
Children are both a blessing and reward from the Lord, even though raising them requires immense investment and sacrifice. Parenting can store up eternal reward.
Matthew 10:42 – Reward for Giving to Others
“And whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward.”
Even small acts of giving to help fellow believers in need will receive an eternal reward from the Lord who sees our hearts.
1 Corinthians 3:11-15 – Reward for Effective Works
“For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw – each one’s work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.”
Our works for Christ will be tested to see if they have eternal value. Fruitful service will bring eternal reward, while selfish works will be lost.
Matthew 16:27 – Repaid According to Works
“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.”
When Christ returns, He will judge all people based on their works and repay them accordingly, whether blessings or condemnation.
Ephesians 6:8 – Receiving from the Lord
“Knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether he is a bondservant or is free.”
All our good works and obedient deeds are seen by God, who promises to reward and bless us in appropriate measure when Christ returns.
Daniel 12:3 – Reward for Godly Wisdom
“And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky above; and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.”
Living wisely and leading others to righteousness brings an unfading eternal reward depicted here in imagery of shining celestial lights.
1 Peter 5:4 – Reward for Faithful Service
“And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.”
When Jesus returns, He will reward the faithful service of godly leaders and servants in the church with eternal honor and glory from God.
James 1:12 – Reward for Persevering Under Trial
“Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.”
Those who endure trials with steadfast trust in Christ show their love for God and will receive eternal life as their reward.
In summary, the Bible paints a magnificent picture of the eternal and priceless rewards God promises to those who walk faithfully with Him, serve Him wholeheartedly, and persevere through trials. Our eternal rewards far outweigh any earthly blessings and serve as a powerful motivation to live in obedience to God and invest our lives in the things of His kingdom. The rewards come in many diverse forms such as eternal life, an unfading inheritance, heavenly treasure, the joy of worshiping Christ face to face, and hearing “Well done” from the King of Kings. As Charles Spurgeon said, “The joys of heaven will surely compensate for the sorrows of earth.”