Good to know you are not devolving. Whew!
A quick review of the concept, but first a disclaimer: I know of “shopping list” of rewards promised by God, so you’ll have to look elsewhere for the virgins. Aisle 666 I think.
In Matthew 11:11 the Lord reveals there are “greater” and “lesser” saints in His kingdom, so not all are equivalent. This Truth is revealed again in Matthew 18:4.
Now let’s hear what the Lord says about rewarding his servants, from Matthew 25:14 and following:
“14 For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.
15 And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.
16 Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents.
17 And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two.
18 But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord’s money.
19 After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.
20 And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more.
21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
22 He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them.
23 His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
24 Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strowed:
25 And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.
26 His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strowed:
27 Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury.
28 Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents.
29 For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.
30 And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
To sum up - He is faithful in small things will be given more. Also, check out 1 Corinthians 6:1 - 8 speaks about the shame of Christians taking one another to earthly courts for “justice”, but it also reveals that saints will judge the world and the angels. We will have heavenly responsibilities, some greater than others; not all equivalent.
Matthew 11:
11
Amen, I say to you, among those born of women there has been none greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
I think that “least” here refers to the “least” here on Earth referring to the status of individuals here.
And the talents refer to the gifts that He has given us in this world and to which we are answerable for at the Judgement.
So-—the saints in heaven DO have responsibilities, after all.
Interesting.
And since in God and in heaven, time is not as it is on earth, those responsibilities certainly could be active continually and not just at the General Judgment.