As Christians, we are betrothed brides of the King of kings. Additionally, we are joint heirs of Jesus, who will inherit all, with a future promise of becoming kings and priests in the Lord’s kingdom. For believers, the Bible offers other specific promises of the crowns we can obtain through our Christian walks.
In James 1:12 and Revelation 2:10, those who suffer for the Lord’s sake and endure temptation are promised the Crown of Life. The Crown of Righteousness is promised in 2 Timothy 4:8 to those who look for the glorious appearing of the Lord. Believers who feed the sheep will receive the Crown of Glory, according to 1 Peter 5:4. The Crown of Rejoicing, referred to by many Bible scholars as the soul winner’s crown, is promised to participants in the growth of God’s kingdom. Paul describes a fifth crown, the imperishable or incorruptible crown:
24 Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. 25 And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. 26 Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. 27 But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.
1 Corinthians 9:24-27
To be disqualified in the race we run as Christians involves giving in to the flesh, rather than walking in the Spirit, yet since it is the Lord who will complete His work in us, He will get us to the finish line. The analogy of an Olympic athlete gives us a better grasp of the discipline necessary to achieve the highest prize. Yet what is the motive? Today, most professional athletes are driven by money. What is the purpose of winning a crown from our Lord? The 24 elders cast their crowns at the feet of Jesus:
9 Whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying:
11“You are worthy, O Lord,
To receive glory and honor and power;
For You created all things,
And by Your will they exist and were created.”
Revelation 4:10-11
Living in this competitive world, even Christians fall prey to the pitfalls of one-upmanship. Yet, we tend to lose sight of the fact that any of the crowns given by Jesus are the direct result of His creation. If you have a deep desire to feed the sheep, did not Jesus place that desire within you? If you are gifted as a teacher, it is a direct result of the spiritual gift He gave you! In his book “Church History in Plain Language,” author Bruce Shelley writes of an early church leader named Clement:
"Clement insists that spiritual insight comes to the pure in heart, to those humble enough to walk with God as a child with his father, to those whose motive for ethical behavior goes far beyond fear of punishment or hope of reward to a love of the good for its own sake. It is an ascent from faith through knowledge to the beatific vision beyond this life, when the redeemed are one with God. The basis for this possibility is the image of God implanted by creation."
Motive is the defining aspect of it all. Are we performing to please God or to stand before the procession of fellow Christians proudly receiving a prize? Our Lord desires humbleness from each of us. To stand before Him, we need a change of heart:
3Who may ascend into the hill of the LORD?
Or who may stand in His holy place?
4He who has clean hands and a pure heart,
Who has not lifted up his soul to an idol,
Nor sworn deceitfully.
Psalm 24:3-4
While clean hands display godly actions, pure hearts signify godly motives. The most important motive of our lives should be to do it all for God’s glory and pleasure. To worship Him is to love Him in return for all that He has done for us. That should be the driving influence of our Christian lives and walks, to honor Him, who wore a crown of thorns because of our sins! Do you desire a crown to give back to Him for all He has done for you? Don’t forget, the way up is down. Through humbleness, God will use us for His kingdom. When our pride, competitiveness and ego get in the mix, the Lord puts us on the bench. Would you rather be a king or a court jester?
Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown.
Revelation 3:11
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