Good day
Just like trophies, medals or awards are given to sporting individuals or teams, the bible says that we will also receive a reward in the form of a crown. Now I'm not sure if this will be 1 or many crowns or whether or not it'll be an actual or figurative crown but we do know that it will last for all eternity and that it's an incorruptible crown/reward/prize given to those who have served God faithfully and carried out their God given assignment on the Earth.
Let's take a look at the below passages where these are referenced:
1 Corinthians 9:24-27
Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow to my body (discipline myself) and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.
Revelation 2:10
Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.
James 1:12
Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.
2 Timothy 4:7-8
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.
1 Peter 5:1-4
The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed. Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by constraint but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock; and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away.
In the below passage, the Apostle Paul describes his relationship with the believers in Thessalonica:
1 Thessalonians 2:7-13
Just as a nursing mother cares for her children, so we cared for you. Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well. Surely you remember, brothers and sisters, our toil and hardship; we worked night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone while we preached the gospel of God to you. You are witnesses, and so is God, of how holy, righteous and blameless we were among you who believed. For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory. And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human word, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is indeed at work in you who believe.
He ends off that passage with the following statement:
1 Thessalonians 2:19-20
For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes? Is it not you? Indeed, you are our glory and joy.
From the above passages I've highlighted certain words in bold where the Apostle Paul speaks about how they preached the gospel of God to them and how they encouraged and urged them to live lives worthy of God - and then saying that the crown/prize/reward in which he will glory, in which he will find joy, when he stands in the presence of Jesus when He returns - is this very same people whose lives were impacted by the word of God.
Based on that statement one could suggest that a believer's hope, joy or prize/reward will not be based on any temporary achievements, accomplishments, accolades, popular job titles or financial status, fame, etc. None of these achievements which can be described by some as a means of "success in life" will carry any weight or hold any significance at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Instead we see that when He returns, when we stand before Him, one of the things that we'll be rewarded or recognized for is how well we carried out the assignment God has given us - an assignment which revolves around impacting lives with the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Amen
1 Corinthians 9:24-27
Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow to my body (discipline myself) and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.
Revelation 2:10
Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.
James 1:12
Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.
2 Timothy 4:7-8
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.
1 Peter 5:1-4
The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed. Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by constraint but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock; and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away.
In the below passage, the Apostle Paul describes his relationship with the believers in Thessalonica:
1 Thessalonians 2:7-13
Just as a nursing mother cares for her children, so we cared for you. Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well. Surely you remember, brothers and sisters, our toil and hardship; we worked night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone while we preached the gospel of God to you. You are witnesses, and so is God, of how holy, righteous and blameless we were among you who believed. For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory. And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human word, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is indeed at work in you who believe.
He ends off that passage with the following statement:
1 Thessalonians 2:19-20
For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes? Is it not you? Indeed, you are our glory and joy.
From the above passages I've highlighted certain words in bold where the Apostle Paul speaks about how they preached the gospel of God to them and how they encouraged and urged them to live lives worthy of God - and then saying that the crown/prize/reward in which he will glory, in which he will find joy, when he stands in the presence of Jesus when He returns - is this very same people whose lives were impacted by the word of God.
Based on that statement one could suggest that a believer's hope, joy or prize/reward will not be based on any temporary achievements, accomplishments, accolades, popular job titles or financial status, fame, etc. None of these achievements which can be described by some as a means of "success in life" will carry any weight or hold any significance at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Instead we see that when He returns, when we stand before Him, one of the things that we'll be rewarded or recognized for is how well we carried out the assignment God has given us - an assignment which revolves around impacting lives with the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Amen