There is a belief going around that for every person we win to Christ, we will receive a star in our crown in the next life. I have searched in vain for any such teaching in the Bible. This is a belief that has been propagated by tradition – one preacher hears it from another and starts preaching it and so on, and no one ever stops to check it.
Now this is by no means a deadly false doctrine that will cause anyone to burn in hell, but it is still unbiblical. Not only is the specific teaching not found in scripture, the principle behind it is also contradictory to the teaching of scripture.
This article discusses why this belief is wrong and what our actual reward in heaven is.
Main Points
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- The Bible does not teach that our reward is stars in our crown.
- Our reward is to reign with Christ.
- We are rewarded for our faithfulness with what God entrusted to us.
- No single person gets the credit when we win someone to Christ. It is a joint effort.
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We are the stars
Dan. 12:3.
And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.
This is the closest the Bible comes to teaching about stars in our crown. This passage states that the righteous, who win souls, will shine as stars in the next life. It does not say anything about stars in their crowns. They are the ones shining as stars.
We cannot go beyond the call
Luke 17:7-10
10 So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.
Jesus gives this parable which unmistakably teaches that we could never do more than we are called to do. We can never go beyond the call. We can do less, but never more. Every good thing we do was ordained by God. We can do God no favors therefore we cannot receive extra reward, but for the most a full reward (2 John 8).
Our reward is reigning with Christ
Luke 19:11-26.
12 He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return.13 And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come.
15 And it came to pass, that when he was returned, having received the kingdom, then he commanded these servants to be called unto him, to whom he had given the money, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading.
16 Then came the first, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained ten pounds.
17 And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities.
18 And the second came, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained five pounds.
19 And he said likewise to him, Be thou also over five cities.
In this parable, Jesus teaches that we receive rewards in heaven based on our faithfulness (vs. 17). Our reward in heaven is based not on the amount of work we do, but our faithfulness in doing what we are called to do.
According to this parable the reward is the extent of one’s rule. We will reign with Christ (Rev. 20:6) even over angels (1 Cor. 6:3). How much rule we obtain is dependent on our faithfulness in this life. Now that is worth sacrificing our lives for, not some stars in our crown.
Who gets the credit?
Another question is who exactly receives credit when someone is won to Christ? 1 Cor. 3:5-9 state that we all have a part to play. Some plant, others water, but God gives the increase. It is God who gets the credit of saving people. We play various roles in the process. Some pray, some preach, some teach new converts, some support financially, some equip others to win souls. Who gets the reward? All do depending on each individual’s faithfulness.
This “stars in our crown” doctrine encourages competition in the body of Christ rather than co-operation. It gives the impression that some will be in a lowly position in heaven while others live in royalty. This is far from correct since in the next life, envy and pride will be no more. Thus it is unbiblical.
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