The Doorpost: God promises us rewards

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Ephesians 2:8-10

For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done.
Matthew 16:27

And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
Hebrews 11:6

Our salvation is a free gift. There is nothing we can do to earn it. But once we receive our salvation, God has good works prepared for us to do. Our obedience to Him in doing these good works will determine our reward in heaven.

Someone might say, “I’m not concerned about rewards for myself. I just serve God out of love.” As good as this sounds, it appears to be an unscriptural approach. Throughout the New Testament, God promises us rewards. Why would He do this if we didn’t need it?

Sometimes, life is very hard, and we may be tempted to give up. Other times (especially in America), life can be too easy, causing us to focus on enjoying this life. Our Savior wants us to focus on our heavenly rewards so we can live for Him, whether life is hard or easy.