Written By: Pastor Nathaniel Wall
One motivation the Bible uses to encourage faithfulness in a Christian is through reward. The Bible repeatedly tells believers to persevere because “great is your reward in heaven” (Matthew 5:12; Luke 6:23).
It is inspiring to know that God wants to reward his people. Hebrews 11:6 says, “God rewards those who diligently seek him”. However, what exactly are these rewards God gives to his people and how many rewards can a Christian receive?
The Word “Reward” in the Bible
When you take the time to study the biblical word “reward” (misthós,-μισθός), you will quickly discover there are 29 passages on reward(s) in the New Testament. A few examples are found in Matthew:
- Matthew 5:12 “Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great…”
- Matthew 6:6 “But as for you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door, and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.”
- Matthew 10:42 “And whoever gives one of these little ones just a cup of cold water to drink in the name of a disciple, truly I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward.”
(See also Luke 6:23, 35; Colossians 3:24; Hebrews 10:35, 11:26; Revelation 11:18, 22:12)
When we study the biblical word “reward” in relation to the Christian life, we see that the word “reward” is almost always singular. Because of this, we can infer that Christians receive a single reward not several rewards.
However, it is worth noting that there is one passage in the New Testament that talks about rewards in the plural. It is in Hebrews 11:6. Yet, the reason the word “reward” is plural here is not because a Christian will receive several rewards, but because Hebrews emphasizes how every Christian will be rewarded. Therefore, the word “reward” is plural not because a Christian gets multiple rewards but because multiple Christians are all receiving a single reward.
What about crowns?
While it is easy to see the Bible teaches that Christians receive a single reward, passages mentioning multiple crowns can be confusing. Early in my Christian faith, I often heard believers claim that Christians can receive several crowns in heaven. In addition, I have also heard Christians claim that we will lay our crowns at Jesus’ feet. Are these two claims true?
In the passages below you will see what looks like five different crowns mentioned in the New Testament. Does this mean believers receive five crowns?
1. 1 Corinthians 9:25 And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown.
2. 1 Thessalonians 2:19 For what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting (rejoicing) before our Lord Jesus at his coming?
3. 2 Timothy 4:8 in the future there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness.
4. James 1:12 he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. (Rev 2:10)
5. 1 Peter 5:4 And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.
On closer examination of these crowns, it is easy to see that these crowns are not five different and unique crowns, but rather one type of crown described in five different ways. Furthermore, the way these crowns are described doesn’t mean Christians get a literal crown. In fact, a literal crown is not even the focus of the verses. The idea of a crown is suggesting that Christians will be adorned with something more important. 1 Corinthians 9:25 is not about a literal imperishable crown of victory but rather the idea that Christians will be crowned in eternal life, which does not perish. In 1 Thessalonians 2:19, Christians are crowned with eternal rejoicing because Jesus will return for his people. In 2 Timothy 4:8, Christians are adorned not with a literal crown but crowned for eternity in the righteousness of God.
Believers are crowned with life forever (James 1:12), that does not fade (1 Peter 5:4), and that no one can take from them because it is secure in Christ. (Revelation 3:11). The crowns mentioned in the Bible represent the prize of unending life in Christ.
Laying Down Our Crowns
This begs the question, if Christians don’t get a literal crown, then why do Christians claim they will lay their crowns at the feet of Jesus? The thought of laying a crown at Jesus’s feet comes from one passage in the Bible. Before I share this passage, I will tell you that it is dangerous to build an entire belief off of one Bible passage. If you believe the Bible is teaching you an important truth, you should be able to find it in multiple places. When referencing laying down crowns, Christians will often be talking about this passage:
Revelation 4:10-11 “the twenty-four elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying, 11 “Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.”
The book of Revelation is written in a style known as apocalyptic literature. Apocalyptic literature is a type of genre that uses symbolic language. Therefore, in Revelation 4:10-11, just because the 24 elders have a crown, does this mean every Christian gets a literal crown? In addition, if the 24 elders lay crowns at Jesus’ feet, does this mean every Christian will lay a crown at Jesus’ feet? If the 24 elders with crowns represents every Christian with a crown, why doesn’t the Bible have other verses teaching this same idea?
It’s important to remember that the Bible uses the term “elder” to refer to an older person or a leader, and sometimes both. In this case I believe this passage is focusing on an older leader. Also, crowns are symbolic of victory, position, and authority. Therefore, in verse 11 you see a picture of elder leaders relinquishing their position of honor to give proper honor to the Lord. Rather than conclude that the point of this passage is to teach all of us we get a literal crown and must lay it at Jesus’ feet, maybe what it is teaching us is that even great leaders will come to this place of utter humility before the greatest king who alone is worthy of our worship. Perhaps the point is not about giving Jesus a crown, but about full surrender of our identity to Jesus’ authority over all of us.
What is our reward?
So then, if I am not getting rewards or crowns in heaven, what is my motivation as a Christian? Let me encourage you, you still have a reward in heaven, and that reward is Jesus! He alone is the prize because there is no heaven without Christ. Heaven isn’t heaven if Jesus isn’t there. Jesus is the great prize.
Therefore, rather than pursue God for what you can get from him, pursue him because you get him. Remember who you were without Christ. You were alienated from God and without hope. Yet because of his grace, you now have the opportunity to know God and to enjoy him for all of eternity. (Ephesians 2:12-14) He is the prize of life and the source of all good things. THE REWARD you receive in heaven is JESUS. This is why Paul says….
Philippians 3:8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith—…14I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus….20 But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ…”