My grandfather was a farmer. Growing up, I remember him telling me stories about the challenges and successes of planting crops. If there was a drought and little rain that year, the crop wouldn’t yield much corn or soybeans. But when the conditions were just right, a huge, bountiful harvest ensued.

As Believers in Jesus Christ, God has called us to bear fruit that will last for all eternity. It brings our Heavenly Father great pleasure when we produce an abundant harvest for His kingdom’s sake. Jesus said,

“When you bear (produce) much fruit, My Father is honored and glorified, and you show and prove yourselves to be true followers of Mine” (John 15:8 AMPC).

The Bible teaches us that we will all give an account one day to God for what we’ve done with what He has given us (Romans 14:12). As Christians, we won’t be judged for our sin, like the world, but we will be rewarded according to how we’ve stewarded our lives and resources.

The Apostle Paul explains in 1 Corinthians 3:12-15 NLT,

“Anyone who builds on that foundation (Christ) may use a variety of materials—gold, silver, jewels, wood, hay, or straw. But on the judgment day, fire will reveal what kind of work each builder has done. The fire will show if a person’s work has any value. If the work survives, that builder will receive a reward. But if the work is burned up, the builder will suffer great loss. The builder will be saved, but like someone barely escaping through a wall of flames.”

This means all our work or the things we’ve done in life will be tried in the fire of God’s presence one day. If what we’ve done for Him passes through the flames without burning up, then we will receive a great reward from God. If, however, our deeds are made of hay, wood or straw, then we won’t.

What a sobering thought! We actually can spend our entire lives producing fruit that won’t last.

The good news is, God teaches us from His Word how we can store up treasure in Heaven where thieves can’t take it and moths and rust can’t destroy it (Matthew 6:19-21). It will be protected for eternity. So, let’s look at some ways we can invest wisely for our eternal futures and bring great honor to God!

Giving to the poor and those in need

God wants us to be generous toward others with our resources. This means He wants us to be on the lookout for ways to be good to those who God brings across our path, especially the poor and disadvantaged. The Good Samaritan parable is an excellent example of this. In Luke 10:25-37, Jesus tells the story about a Samaritan who came across a Jewish man who was left for dead alongside the road by bandits. The Samaritan could have kept going like the other two religious workers did in the story. But he didn’t. He stopped, dressed the man’s wounds and took him to an inn, even though it interrupted his current plan. He then paid for the time the man stayed at the inn to recover. Jesus commended the Samaritan and said he showed love to his neighbor. In the same way, God delights in us when we get involved in others’ lives, and it costs us something – our time and money. Our work doesn’t go unnoticed by God; He sees it all and will reward us for it!

The Bible says in Proverbs 19:17, “Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will reward them for what they have done.”

Finishing the assignment God gives you

Each of us has been given an assignment from God, a divine calling or a purpose while on earth. When we obey God by faith and finish the race God marks out for us, we store up treasure in Heaven. As Jesus hung on the cross and was about to breathe his last breath, He said, “It is finished,” implying He had fulfilled the mission His Heavenly Father had given Him on earth, which was to become the sin offering and salvation for the world. God commissioned the Apostle Paul to build up the early church throughout the Mediterranean region. Yet, despite all the opposition and adversity he faced, he declared at the end of his life,

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing” (2 Timothy 4:7-8 NIV).

When we accomplish what God has given us, we, too, will receive a reward in Heaven. That’s why it’s so important to ask God to help us discover what our purpose is on earth. Not only does God want to reveal it to us, He wants to help us fulfill it!

I can testify from personal experience that I’ve wanted to quit a million times with the assignment God has given me. Not to mention, the enemy has tried to discourage me from continuing, as well. Each time I found myself discouraged and wanting to give up, God would gently remind me to keep going and that there would be a great reward if I didn’t quit. I’m so glad I’ve continued to heed His advice through the years. At the end of my life, I want to say the same thing that Christ and the Apostle Paul said, “I have finished the race; I have kept the faith!” I pray the same for you, too. It’s worth persevering.

Loving others as Christ loved us

Jesus has commissioned His Church to love others as He loved us. In John 15:12-17 NIV, Jesus declares,

“My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. This is my command: Love each other.”

When we love people with the love of God, we store up treasure in Heaven. Practically speaking, when you choose to respond in kindness to your spouse or kids who are getting on your last nerve, you love the way Christ did. And when you choose to forgive those who persecute you and mistreat you, you are storing up treasure in Heaven. In addition, when you refuse to keep records of the wrong done to you but overlook an offense, you are acting like Christ and increasing your wealth in your Heavenly bank account. Even when you choose to love and forgive yourself for the mistakes you’ve made, you are operating in faith and coming into agreement with what God says about you. This is honoring Him, and you will receive a reward!

Doing what’s right with the “right” motive

God doesn’t only want us to do what’s right; He wants us to do it with pure intentions as well. Otherwise, our reward doesn’t last. In the gospel of Matthew, Jesus said,

“Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in Heaven. 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 honored by others. Truly I tell you, 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 your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you” (Matthew 6:1-6 NIV).

You can see from this passage that God cares deeply about why we do what we do. If our actions are correct, but our intentions are wrong, then our reward won’t last for eternity. If, however, we do the right thing and do it with right motives, our reward will be great in Heaven.

Fruit that lasts

In the end, God longs to reward His people for a job well done. That’s why God has made it clear how we can store up treasure in Heaven. And even though this blog is not an exhaustive list on the subject, God will teach you and help you produce lasting fruit as you seek him, study His Word and stay connected to Him – the True Vine. The choice is yours: Will you live for the here and now or will you invest wisely for the future? Remember, everything we have in this life is on loan from God. Nothing is ours. We are stewards of our time, talent and resources. Prayerfully take inventory of what you are doing with your life. Ask God to help you make wise choices and produce fruit that will last for all eternity!