2 Corinthians 5:10 (NKJV) For we must all appear before the judgement seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.
1 Corinthians 3:14-15 (NKJV) If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.
The judgement seat of Christ is a place where obedience, service, faithfulness, motives, and willingness to serve are evaluated, using the gifts, talents, financial or material blessings that He has given us to love and serve Him. It will also be a day when the true motives behind our service are revealed, and work done with the right heart attitude will be rewarded.
The Apostle Paul understood this truth and was willing to preach the gospel freely, even though God explicitly states in the Bible that those who preach the gospel are entitled to live by it. Paul was motivated by the reward rather than the privileges of the position, firmly believing that he would be rewarded for his labour of love for the church (1 Corinthians 9:3-18).
It is very dangerous for us to prioritise earthly work over God’s work. Either God gets priority from us through our commitment and right attitude, or the work will be burnt up when tested by fire before us on the Day of Judgement.
All the work we do for the Lord will be revealed on that day, exposing the motives and intentions behind our service. Gold, silver, and precious stones represent things that endure or hold eternal value—things that please God, walking in His will, and serving Him with the gifts and talents He has given us, including sharing the gospel, ministering to others with the gifts He has given us—both the gifts of the Holy Spirit and the natural gifting that He has given us.
Everyone wants to see their work withstand the test of fire and hear, “Well done! My good and faithful servant!” The Bible says that those whose work remains when it is tested by fire will receive a reward, but we need to know that God always looks at the heart rather than the quantity or outward results.
Our salvation is purely based on the atonement and redemptive work of Jesus Christ. We are saved by grace through faith, and we have the imputed righteousness, which is a gift. We didn’t deserve it, but He freely gave it to us when we called on the name of Jesus. We are not saved by works, but we are saved to do good works. God has recorded everything done out of love and a pure heart, for which we will be rewarded.
Sermon Series: Giving out of a heart of gratitude
永恒的奖赏
哥林多后书5:10 因为我们众人必要在基督台前显露出来，叫各人按着本身所行的，或善或恶受报。
哥林多前书3:14–15 人在那根基上所建造的工程若存得住，他就要得赏赐；人的工程若被烧了，他就要受亏损，自己却要得救，虽然得救，乃像从火里经过的一样。
基督的审判台，是评估我们顺服、服事、忠心、动机以及甘心乐意程度的地方；也会审视我们是否善用祂所赐给我们的恩赐、才干，以及财务或物质上的祝福，来爱祂并服事祂。那一天，服事背后的真实动机将被显明；凡是出于正确心态所做的工，都必得着奖赏。
使徒保罗深知这一真理，因此他甘心白白地传福音。尽管圣经清楚指出，传福音的人理当靠福音养生（参林前 9:3–18），保罗却更看重将来的奖赏，而非职分所带来的权利。他坚信，自己为教会所付出的爱之劳苦，必蒙神纪念并得赏赐。
我们若把地上的工作置于神的工作之上，是非常危险的。神要的是我们以正确的态度与真实的委身把祂放在首位；否则，在审判之日，经火试验时，这些工作都将被焚毁。
我们为主所做的一切工，在那日都要被显露出来，显明其中的动机与意图。金、银、宝石象征那些能够存留、具有永恒价值的事——讨神喜悦的事、行在祂旨意中的事，以及忠心使用祂所赐的恩赐与才干来服事祂的事；其中包括传扬福音、以圣灵的恩赐和神所赐的天然才能去服事他人。
我们都渴望自己的工程经得起火的考验，并听见主说：“好！你这又良善又忠心的仆人！”圣经告诉我们，凡经火试验仍然存留的工，必得着奖赏。然而，我们也当知道，神所看重的始终是内心，而不是数量或外在的成果。
我们的救恩完全建立在耶稣基督的赎罪与救赎之工上。我们得救是本乎恩，也因着信，并且领受了那白白赐下的归算之义；这是我们不配得、却因呼求耶稣之名而蒙赐的礼物。我们不是因行为得救，却是为着行善而得救。凡出于爱与清洁之心所做的一切，神都已经记录，并且必按着祂的信实赐下奖赏。
讲章系列：出于感恩之心的奉献