With apologies for having spent so long not producing a meditation, I turn to a particular topic, rewards, and will begin with the definition of a reward from my dictionary: a reward is 'that which is given for good (sometimes evil), or in recognition of merit, or for performance of a service.'

What does the Bible, particularly the New Testament, have to say on this subject?

The first occurrence of the word comes in Matthew's gospel, from Jesus' Sermon in the Mount, where he says: "Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven ..." (Matt 5:12-13).

Great is your reward in heaven! Immediately we can see that heaven is not the reward itself, but the place where God's rewards will be received. In the next chapter the word comes again twice: "So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honoured by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you." (Matt 6:2-4)

When Jesus sent out the Twelve preaching he said: "He who receives you receives me, and he who receives me receives the one who sent me. Anyone who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet's reward, and anyone who receives a righteous man because he is a righteous man will receive a righteous man's reward. And if anyone gives a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward." (Matt 10:40-42)

In contrast with rewards, which are given very much at the discretion of the giver, the New Testament also refers to wages. Wages are what we have earned by our own effort. Here is the most telling contrast between what is earned and what is given: "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus or Lord." (Romans 6:23)

Paul talks about ministries, his own and those of others, in 1 Corinthians chapter 3, and concludes by saying of someone who minsters for God: "If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. If it is burnt up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames." (1 Cor. 3:14-15)

It is clear that for all those who are saved there will be a reckoning; some will receive a greater reward, for their work stood the test, and some will receive less, for their work did not stand the test. But all who are saved are still saved.

What sort of things will be in any reward we who are saved may receive in heaven?

Almost certainly they will be beyond our current imagining. It would be foolish to suppose that the kind of things rewards in this life consist of, money, luxuries, bodily pleasures, are going to be dished out in heaven. In a parable Jesus told, where various servants were given different sums of money to use wisely on their master's behalf, when the master returned and each was invited to settle their accounts, the way in which those who had done well were praised reads: "Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!" (Matt 25:21)

I think this is the reward we may all hope for: the invitation to share our Lord's happiness. And if we have discharged responsibilities well in this life, it seems that possibly there will be commensurate responsibilities in the next life too. Responsibility as a reward. Now there's a thought.