How Are Heavenly Crowns Earned?

Q: How are heavenly crowns earned? Is a better role in heaven dependent on the number of crowns I have?

A: Yes, in some sense, crowns are earned. The crown that the believer receives as a reward in heaven is likened to an athlete's crown. An athlete's crown is earned, and in some respect, our heavenly crown is like that. The crown we receive is not a participation trophy; it is something given as a result of what a person does on Earth.

For example, in 1 Corinthians 9:25, our effort as Christians is rewarded with a crown. The athlete competes for a perishable crown, but we receive an imperishable crown. James 1:12 connects a crown with enduring temptation and loving the Lord. Revelation 2:10 and 3:11 also mention crowns in relation to how we live in this life. While 1 Peter 5:4 mentions a crown without a direct connection to our actions, 2 Timothy 4:8 speaks of the crown of righteousness, which is connected to faithful service and the anticipation of Jesus' return.

There are two main words for crown in the New Testament: one refers to a royal crown, and the other refers to the victor's crown. The crown Paul refers to in 2 Timothy 4:8 is the victor's crown, recognizing someone who has competed according to the rules and won the victory. This is linked to how a person has lived, served, and been faithful on this side of eternity. While some will be rewarded more than others, it is God's prerogative to distribute rewards as He sees fit.

At the end of it all, even our ability to be faithful and serve the Lord is a gift of His grace. We won't walk around in heaven boasting about our crowns. There will be many surprises in who receives what. Additionally, there are probably differing roles in the coming age connected to our heavenly rewards. In 2 Corinthians 5:10, we learn that we will give an account for what we've done, and in Luke 19, faithful servants are rewarded with authority over cities based on their faithfulness.

In the coming millennial age, when Jesus reigns, those who are resurrected and rewarded will likely have different realms of authority connected to their faithfulness on Earth. Revelation 20:6 speaks of those who will reign with Christ, and 2 Timothy 2:12 says that if we endure, we will also reign with Him. This may extend into the eternal state, where we will serve God in ways we can't currently imagine. Our scope of service may be connected to our crowns, rewarding present faithfulness.