The subject of eternal rewards does not get much play in the pulpit. Most sermons focus on the here and now—whether to help me hang on and not give up, or how you can get blessed and prosper.
Apostle Paul saw things differently. He said that necessity was laid upon him to preach the gospel and “Woe is unto me if I preach not the gospel.” He explained: “A dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me” (1Cor.9:16-17). In other words, he had no other choice if he was going to be obedient to the call of God entrusted to him. When God arrested him on the road to Damascus and opened his eyes to the truth, he was given an assignment to preach the gospel, no matter the cost, and he was told the cost would be great (Acts 9).
He had a choice: to do it willingly, with joy, or doing it under duress. Either way, he was going to preach the gospel and complete his assignment! He would not fail God; go back on his calling; or give up along the way. Obedience is the primary thing with God, but since he was going to do it, he decided he would do it with the right attitude:
“For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward” (vs.17).
There is something better than going to heaven, and that is going to heaven and receiving rewards!
In the third chapter of this letter to the Corinthians, Paul revealed how this will be decided. Everyone who is in Christ is building on the sure foundation of Jesus Christ. Throughout our Christian lives, our works for Christ are built on this foundation. Some are building with gold, silver, and precious stones. Others are building with wood, hay, and stubble. Every Christian’s works will be tried by fire to see of what sort it is. (Notice, he did not say what size it is.)
When wood, hay, and stubble are put to the fire, they are consumed. This results in a loss of rewards. (This has nothing to do with one’s salvation. We are not saved by works.) Paul said: If anyone’s work shall be burnt, he shall suffer loss, but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.” Those whose works endure the fire as gold, silver, and precious stones, will receive eternal rewards (1Cor.3:11-15).
Going for the Gold!
With this goal in mind, Paul continued in 9:24-27, “So run, that you may obtain. And every man that strives for the mastery is temperate in all things.” In other words, everyone who is aiming for a medal, especially a gold medal, strives—endures agonizing training and self-control. Paul often referred to the great Roman and Greek games in his letters, as he did here. They do it “to obtain a corruptible crown, but we an incorruptible.” We are in a race for the ultimate rewards.
Right now we are watching the Summer Olympics in Tokyo. Those Olympians have been preparing their whole young lives to make it to the Olympics. And they want to medal—preferably gold! We can only imagine the sacrifices they have made to be there. Growing up: spending hours every day practicing their sport. When friends were hanging out, going to the mall, sleeping in, they were up early in the gym, working out. They were running track, swimming laps, lifting weights. They carefully watched their diets to be in the best physical condition. And they had to submit themselves to the training and guidance of their coaches. They not only had to conform to the training, but do it with all their heart.
Paul continued, “I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one who beats the air (as in shadow boxing). But I keep under my body and bring it into subjection: lest by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.”
In these four verses, Paul exhorted: Run! Strive! Run! Fight! Keep under subjection! These comprise one who runs with purpose—to receive the rewards for a race well-run.
I want every reward I am qualified to receive!
There are some rewards I will not be able to compete for, such as being an anointed singer and worship leader. Fact is, I do not have a singing voice. I am focusing on the gifts and callings God has placed on my life. I am dedicated to fulfilling my earthly assignment with excellence and glory to Him.
Those who compete in the Olympics first have to qualify in their field of ability. There are pre-Olympic tryouts where some are eliminated and others make the Olympic team. They may compete for just one medal, or in some cases, they can compete for up to 10 medals if they qualify to compete in 10 events.
This is how Michael Phelps became the most medaled Olympian in history, most of which are golds. He qualified to compete in many different swimming categories. First, he had to compete in the qualifying rounds, the quarter rounds, the semi rounds, and finally, the medal rounds. In each of these rounds, athletes are eliminated while others move up to the next round. Phelps consistently qualified for every race he entered, and then went on to medal in all of them.
Some athletes only compete in one event, and if they win the gold, they are ecstatic. Think of what dedication it takes to race in many events, sometimes two per day! Had Phelps fooled around: not getting proper sleep, not eating a good diet (he had to eat 8-10,000 calories a day when training and competing), not putting time in the pool, but thinking Oh, I got this down, he would not have been Olympic-ready. He stayed in his swimming lane, striving for the mastery, and his rewards are Olympic history.
Suppose Phelps had decided to try to compete in the winter Olympics as an ice skater? Would he qualify? No. He would not make it past the first elimination rounds, because he has never trained for it.
We need to know what we are called to do for the Lord, how we are called to serve, and then strive for the mastery—go for the gold!
In order to this, Paul said, we must be “temperate in all things.” We exercise self-control over our fleshly appetites and cravings. This means “keeping our body under subjection.” The literal meaning of this in the original Greek language is graphic: To beat it black and blue. Here’s how Paul put it in Galatians 5:24: “And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.”
“Lest by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.” In the Greek text, castaway refers to something that has failed the test, specifically the metal test. It ties in with what Paul said previously that our works shall be tried by fire. Some will be consumed and lose their rewards. Those that pass the test will come forth as gold and silver.
Finish with Joy!
We’ve seen that Paul had made up his mind to fulfill his calling and assignment, and to do it in such a way as to receive the avSailable commensurate rewards. Part of this was the attitude with which he did it: “But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God” (Acts 20:24).
And I intend to finish my course with joy! Joy because I have prepared, trained, and executed my personal race at my personal best, according to the abundant grace given to me. The older I get, the closer I get to the finish line, and “I press toward the mark for the prize of eternal life” (Phi.4:13-14), and for the rewards that are mine to win or lose.
Paul stated, “If a man strives for the masteries, yet he is not crowned, except he strives lawfully” (2Tim.2:5). The athletes have to play by the rules. In the past, we have seen great Olympians stripped of their medals when it was learned they had taken banned substances. If we want the rewards, we must use our gifts in obedience to the Word.
Everyone who receives the free gift of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ will receive a crown of life (Rev.2:10), but there are other crowns that will be given to some, including an elder’s crown, crown of rejoicing, in addition to untold rewards. The training and competition are here and now. We experience fiery trials of faith that we may come forth as pure gold (Job 23:10, 1Peter 1:7). How we respond in these, and how we keep our motives pure, will determine what our eternal rewards will be. There will be no grumbler’s crown, so make sure you don’t complain when your assignment is tough.
Whatever is done to the devotion of or praise of men, will be rewarded here, but there will be no eternal rewards, no men-pleasers crown, because Jesus said they already got their praise of men here.
Not me. I am going for the gold, the silver, the precious gems that are eternal and unperishable! When I stand before God, I want to be able to say: “Father, I finished the work which You gave me to do” (John 17:4). And I want to finish it with excellence and joy! I want that crown of rejoicing!
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