Heavenly rewards
While we, as Christians, understand that our works don’t have anything to do with our entry to heaven, we find out that our works have everything to do with our reward once we get there.
REWARDS
1 Corinthians 3:10 According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it. 11For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw— 13each 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. 14If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. 15If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.
The loss referred to here is the loss of reward. The “revealing by fire” reference I like to visualise as Jesus taking one glance at our works with His eyes of fire and Poof! – instantly everything burnable is reduced to ashes. Of course His foundation of salvation in our lives is fireproof so at the very minimum we are left with salvation only and no reward. This fire is not the fires of hell which is a separate issue not referred to in this passage. Also, note the degrees of perishable works and the degrees of imperishable works. This shows a variety of value in our works and a corresponding value of reward. Knowing this, the Christian must always be thinking “I must be producing gold, silver, precious stones otherwise I might as well just quit and go to heaven now.” That’s why Paul admonishes the believer to “take care” how he builds.
Revelation 22:12 Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done.
1 Cor 3:8 He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labour.
2 Cor 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body (ie, while alive on this earth), according to what he has done, whether good or bad.
Matthew 16:27 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.
2 John 1:8 Watch yourselves, so that you may not lose what we have worked for, but may win a full reward.
Note that if by our effort we can win a full reward then by less effort we can win a partial reward. And by carelessness we may lose the reward that we have worked for.
Rev 3:11 I am coming quickly; hold fast what you have, so that no one will take your crown.
Again, be diligent so that you won’t lose something of incredible value that Jesus will give you.
REWARDS ARE IMPLIED TO BE RESPONSIBILITY/POSITION
Matthew 25:14-30 For it (the kingdom of heaven) is just like a man about to go on a journey, who called his own slaves, and entrusted his possessions to them. And to one he gave five talents, to another, two, and to another, one, each according to his own ability; and he went on his journey. Immediately the one who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and gained five more talents. In the same manner the one who had received the two talents gained two more. But he who received the one talent went away and dug in the ground, and hid his master’s money. Now after a long time the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them. And the one who had received the five talents came up and brought five more talents, saying, ‘Master, you entrusted five talents to me; see, I have gained five more talents.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave; you were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things, enter into the joy of your master.’ The one also who had received the two talents came up and said, ‘Master, you entrusted to me two talents; see, I have gained two more talents.’ “His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave; you were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’ And the one also who had received the one talent came up and said, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed. And I was afraid, and went away and hid your talent in the ground; see, you have what is yours.’ But his master answered and said to him, ‘You wicked, lazy slave, you knew that I reap where I did not sow, and gather where I scattered no seed. Then you ought to have put my money in the bank, and on my arrival I would have received my money back with interest. Therefore take away the talent from him, and give it to the one who has the ten talents.’ For to everyone who has shall more be given, and he shall have an abundance; but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away.”
Matthew 5: 19Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
Jesus clearly told his followers the Kingdom of Heaven would be a place where individual saved believers would be rewarded according to their deeds. If you do a lot with what God has given you, you will get a greater reward in Heaven. If you squander what God has given you, don’t be surprised to find that your reward is much less. All Christians need to know this reality which is why the writer of Hebrews 6 refers to judgement and resurrection of the dead as two of the six foundational teachings. Eternal rewards begin with the saints ruling on earth with Jesus but that’s another subject (Rev 5:10 You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth. Rev 20:6 Blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection; … but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand years.)
Other scriptures imply degrees of joy, types of crown, and other unspecified rewards. My above notes are a simple introduction to this subject and there is much material available for further study.