Lesson 25: Be Filled by Hope (4)
Read 1 Corinthians 3:10-17 - https://www.bible.com/bible/59/1co.3

The fourth reason we are left here on earth is because God gives us the ability and the opportunity to work for REWARDS IN HEAVEN. Romans 2:7 tells us every saved person has at least one reward waiting for them – the crown of eternal life. There are other rewards possible such as faithfulness, joy, and more. In 1 Corinthians 3:12-15 we are told our works will be judged by God according to what those works were made of. This is called the judgment seat of God. Some people misunderstand this judgment seat because they do not understand the culture in which Paul was writing this letter. On my visit to Corinth, I stood before this judgment seat, or Bema seat as Paul called it. To understand, we need to know there were two types of judgments in Paul’s day – one was criminal and the other one was civil. We have the same types of trials today but they usually take place in the same courtrooms. In Paul's day this was not so – criminal trials were held in military or governor facilities and civil trials were held in the marketplace. Corinth’s Bema seat is located in the central market square. Jesus’ judgment of our works, as it is described in this passage, is not a criminal trial. This is Jesus’ civil trial of our works after we were saved. The standard of judgment is Matthew 6:33 – how much of what we did was for God's kingdom? How much of it was done for ourselves? On this basis we will receive or lose rewards.


It is not always easy for us to know our own motives for doing something. For example, if I do an extra job for my boss which I know they will greatly appreciate and I know they will give me special consideration as a result, it is hard to know if I am doing it for the purpose of gaining that special consideration, or if I am doing it for God’s glory. The best thing we can do at these times is to ask God to make it all for His glory and tell Him we will be satisfied and thankful no matter what happens.

One last item about rewards – we humans like to think everything that is reward-worthy must be world-shattering, like winning an Olympic event or something of this kind. But the Bible says differently. Look at Matthew 10:42 to be surprised by what God considers an action of eternal reward! It is not about us; it is all about serving God and others. All we have to do is follow Mark 9:35 and 10:44 in our daily lives – be servants toward others in God’s strength, following His leading, for His glory.

Read the following Scriptures and write down what you read about rewards, the kinds of rewards, and other factors involved in the judgment:
*2 Timothy 4:8
*James 1:12
*1 Peter 5:4
*Revelation 3:11
*Revelation 4:10