How diligent are you serving God? Are you running to receive a crown or are you beating the air (1 Corinthians 9:24-27)? This Christian race is real and there will be prizes. You are the one that determine your prize. This article stresses the need for you prepare for the level you desire.

Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one's work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one's work, of what sort it is. 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 - 1 Corinthians 3:12-15 (NKJV).

What do you think? Do you think it will be right to serve God with all your energy, time, money and all (Matthew 22:37) and then come and get the same prize with someone who just made sure he didn't go to hell? What you sow, you will reap; sow bountifully, you will reap bountifully, sow sparingly and you will reap sparingly (2 Corinthians 9:6). God is a rewarder (Hebrew 11:6), and He is coming with His rewards and He will reward you according to your works (Romans 2:6, Revelations 22:12, Isaiah 40:10, Isaiah 62:11, Matthew 16:27). Brethren, there will be levels in heaven.

Two people will be at the sides of Jesus (Mark 10:35-40), the apostles will be rule over the twelve tribes of Israel (Luke 22:28-30), some will be at the bosom of Abraham (Luke 16:22), some will have authority over ten, five cities, and yet some none (Luke 19:11-27), and some may be door keepers (Psalm 84:10). Some are building with gold, others with silver or precious stones, and yet others with wood, hay, and straw, and the results are all different. Some may suffer loss but they will make heaven. What are you building with?

There will be surprises in heaven; the first shall be the last and the last first (Matthew 20:16). On that day, you may be surprised that those with the greatest rewards are those nobody ever heard of, the rewards are according to your works. People's reports or commendation of you are not important. It is the report of God, who sees in the secret and rewards openly (Matthew 6:6), that matters.

So, what should be your disposition towards call for service in the kingdom?  You serve God and not man (Ephesians 6:7). Your services in the church are not counting for the pastor but for you and the rewards will not go to them either. They too are running a race and will have to give account of their service too (Romans 14:12). The major reward from a church may not go to the pastor; it may go to one elderly woman who has never ceased praying for God's will for the church, or to a little boy who is always winning souls for Christ and getting them established in that church. Your age does not count, your works do.

God rewards every service, whether service in prayer and fasting (Luke 2:37), or in preaching the word (Acts 6:4), etc. But, I believe the full reward will come if you are fulfilling the call of God in your life (2 Timothy 4:5, Songs of Solomon 1:6). Whatever you do serving God, do it with all your heart, run according to the rules (2 Timothy 2:5, 1 Corinthians 9:25), and you will be rewarded accordingly.

So, any opportunity you have to serve God, utilize it because you are laying up treasure for yourself in heaven (Matthew 6:19-21). Your works will speak for you not just here on earth but also in eternity (Luke 18:29-30).

Ngozi Nwoke is a teacher, speaker, counselor and author of "Peace Money Can't Buy" and "The Man Jesus: What You Need to Know About Christ". She has a passion to teach people how to enjoy peace, God's love, and Christian living for a more fulfilling life. Want a more fulfilling life?