During this morning’s Adult Bible Study, we looked at motivations for serving the Lord. We should be motivated by love for Jesus because of all that He has done for us. That love should produce a desire to bring glory to God. But there is another motivation that hasn’t been mentioned yet. God also motivates us with the knowledge that believers will stand before the judgment Seat of Christ. Being that every Christian has been forgiven of all sins (Col. 2:13), will not be condemned (Rom. 8:1), and has been made righteous because of Christ (2 Cor. 5:21), what future judgment could there be for a believer to face?
- What does the Bible say?
Luke 19:11-26 – Jesus told a parable to those who thought the kingdom would appear immediately. A nobleman entrusted a certain amount of money to ten of his servants to do business with. When he returned the nobleman called each servant to report on their investments. One had earned ten times as much. He was rewarded with responsibility over ten cities. Another earned five times as much. He was rewarded with responsibility over five cities. Another admitted to having done nothing with his money. He was rebuked for his inactivity, and his money was given to the first servant. The truth behind the parable was that those who have invested wisely will be given more while those who do not will have what they have removed.
Romans 14:8-12 – When people have differences of opinion about things, they should remember that Jesus is the ultimate judge. We all will stand before the judgment seat of Christ and give account of ourselves to God.
1 Corinthians 3:10-15 – When different ministers work with God’s people, some lay the foundation while others build on it. The foundation must always be Jesus, but what is built on top of that foundation is important. The quality of what is built can be compared to precious metals, gems, wood, hay, and stubble. In the end, each will be tested with fire. If anything remains, that person will be rewarded. If anything is burned up, it will be a loss, but the person will still be saved.
2 Corinthians 5:9-11 – Our goal is to be pleasing to God because we will appear before the judgment seat of Christ. At that point, each person will receive the things done in the body according to his good and bad actions. Because of that future reality, there is terror of the Lord that leads us to persuade men. - What does it mean?
Every believer will give account (Luke 19:11-26).
In the parable, each servant had to give account of his investment of the nobleman’s money. Those who invested wisely were honored by their master. Those who did not invest were rebuked and their money was given to a responsible servant. This parable was designed to show the future accountability of individual believers. Each believer will have to give an account of how he has used his talents and resources for the Lord. This meeting will most probably take place after the Rapture and at the Judgment Seat of Christ.
Every believer will answer to the Lord (Rom. 14:8-12).
When believers have differences of opinion about minor issues, they must be careful to let the Lord be the ultimate judge of each person. Each person must make his own decision about what he believes is acceptable to the Lord. This doesn’t negate the teaching of Scripture or allow for sinful activity. But it does make it clear that each believer will answer to the Lord for his actions. Because of that, other believers should not judge or have contempt for the other person.
Every believer will be evaluated (1 Cor. 3:10-15).
When people were arguing about who was the best minister, Paul made it clear that each minister’s work would someday be tested. He likened this work to building a house on top of a foundation. The materials used to make the building would be tested with fire and only the good stuff would be left behind. In the end, Jesus will evaluate the quality of the work accomplished. Godly, biblical, and helpful things will remain after the fire test and be rewarded. Frivolous, worldly, or unimportant things will be burned up and deemed worthless. The person involved with those things will still be saved but will not be rewarded.
Every believer will be rewarded (2 Cor. 5:9-11).
After talking about the reality of being with the Lord after death, Paul taught that every believer should seek to be pleasing to the Lord. One motivation for this was the coming Judgment Seat of Christ. All believers will receive something based on what they have done. This could be good or bad. Since Christians will not be judged for sins because of Jesus’ death in their place, this must not refer to a judgment about sins. Instead, it will be an evaluation of the wise or unwise use of time, talents, and resources for the Lord. Imagine if the Lord asked why you did or didn’t do something when you had the ability to do so. “Though Paul knew that his salvation and eternal destiny were obtained by faith in Christ, the thought of one day standing before this Savior awed him. It was the contemplation of that moment that moved Paul to fear the Lord and impelled him on in His service.”1 - How does it apply?
How are you investing what God has given you?
The servants in Jesus’ parable were given a certain amount of money to invest before the nobleman returned. Their use or lack of use determined their master’s response. What talents and resources has God given you? How are you investing them at this moment? Knowing that there is a coming evaluation should motivate us to start investing now.
Who are you worried about?
Paul addressed people who had become increasingly concerned about others. They differed with them about things that were not clearly defined in Scripture as important. It is easy for us to become so concerned about the choices others are making that we lose focus on our own choices. Each of us will answer to God for our choices. So, be sure to prepare yourself for that.
What will Jesus say to you?
The Judgment Seat of Christ will be a time of reckoning. Each of us will be evaluated concerning the quality of our work and the wise use of what has been given to us. We will receive rewards based on what Jesus thinks of our work. What do you think Jesus will say to you? Will he say that you invested time in worthless activities? Will he say that you were pleasing to Him? And in the end will you be rewarded or left empty handed? These are sobering questions.
Conclusion
While the future may seem like a long way off, it could be right around the corner. Jesus promised to come back and, at some point after His return, we will stand before Him to give account of our lives. As we consider that future meeting, let it motivate us to be wise with the time we have remaining.
Bibliography
Lowery, David K., “2 Corinthians” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary New Testament, USA: SP Publications, 1983.
“What is the judgment seat of Christ?” as viewed at https://printer.gotquestions.net/GeneratePF?articleId=1216 on 4/18/2026.
Footnotes
- Lowery 566. ↩︎