Bottom line up front: The Biblical View of Reward

Introduction: Colossians 3 was one of the passages I was studying. Specifically, verses 18-25. I don’t understand it when folks say they can’t understand Scripture; letters like Colossians are replete with practical items. For example,

22 Bondservants, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. 23 Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. 25 For the wrongdoer will be paid back for the wrong he has done, and there is no partiality. (Colossians 3:22-24, ESV)

In modern parlance, we might say, “Keep it real” or “Be genuine.” Stated negatively, it would read like, “Don’t be a hypocrite, because God sees, and we will answer.” Stated positively, it would read like, “Work hard and properly because rewards are meted out via God’s standard, commensurate with what we did properly and for God’s glory.”

What the passage does NOT teach is that we merit favor with God by way of our works. What it does teach is that if we are Christians, our works will bear witness that we’re being transformed by the sovereign grace of God into vessels that reflect Christlikeness. As Paul writes in one of his other New Testament letters, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10, ESV).

Encouragement: When we think upon Colossians 3:22-24, we see clearly that we’re to fear the Lord, to labor diligently for the Lord, and to trust the Lord to reward redeemed people. God crowns his own graces. That is, the fact that God would reward us sinners after rescuing us is grace upon grace. How much more, therefore, should our labors reflect said grace. We are told plainly not to aim to please men in a sycophantic way; rather, we are to labor faithfully because we know that we are ultimately evaluated by the scales of the Righteous and Holy One.