Not only will they be rewarded for their works, they will be punished by the lack of them.
Matthew 25
14 “For it is just like a man about to go on a journey, who called his own slaves and entrusted his possessions to them.
For "it" is like a man about to go on a journey. What is "it". If we jump back to verse one, it's talking about the kingdom of God.
The kingdom of God is like a man about to go on a journey. This man calls "his own slaves". These were slaves that belonged to Him, not someone else.
He entrusts His possessions to these slaves while He is gone.
Jesus doesn't have non-believers in His houses. He doesn't put non-believers in charge of His kingdom and possessions.
Jesus doesn't give non-believers gifts and talents to increase the kingdom of God.
15 “To one he gave five talents, to another, two, and to another, one, each according to his own ability; and he went on his journey.
16 “Immediately the one who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and gained five more talents.
17 “In the same manner the one who had received the two talents gained two more.
18 “But he who received the one talent went away, and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.
We all know the story, the one with five, gained five more. The one with two gained two more. But the last one, simply buried his talent in the ground. I notice here it says in verse 15, he gave "each according to his own ability". God doesn't give you anything you can't handle.
It seems that even if this slave would have only increased what he had by one single talent, the master would have been happy.
19 “Now after a long time the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them.
20 “The one who had received the five talents came up and brought five more talents, saying, ‘Master, you entrusted five talents to me. See, I have gained five more talents.’
21 “His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’
22 “Also the one who had received the two talents came up and said, ‘Master, you entrusted two talents to me. See, I have gained two more talents.’
23 “His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’
These first two slaves, that used the talents to increase the kingdom, were rewarded, and told "well done". Isn't that what we want to hear Jesus say to us? But it's this third slave that the story is really about.
24 “And the one also who had received the one talent came up and said, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow and gathering where you scattered no seed.
25 ‘And I was afraid, and went away and hid your talent in the ground. See, you have what is yours.’
26 “But his master answered and said to him, ‘You wicked, lazy slave, you knew that I reap where I did not sow and gather where I scattered no seed.
27 ‘Then you ought to have put my money in the bank, and on my arrival I would have received my money back with interest.
Some Christians believe that the kingdom of God will just automatically increase on it's own, as if Jesus Himself planted the seeds everywhere Himself. But no, when He comes back, He will be expecting to find fruit and crops in places He Himself did not scatter seeds, and sow.
It's up to us to scatter the seeds and sow. It's up to us to witness, share the word, and increase the kingdom. God didn't give you these gifts and talents, just so you could bury them in the ground.
28 ‘Therefore take away the talent from him, and give it to the one who has the ten talents.’
29 “For to everyone who has, more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away.
30 “Throw out the worthless slave into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
This parable ends on a rather ominous note. Throw out that worthless slave. You can't be thrown out of the Master's house unless you're already a member of the household. Why did this slave get thrown out? Because he was lazy (verse 26).
Not only does he get thrown out, but he is thrown "into the outer darkness; in the place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth". This doesn't sound like a very fun place to be.
Every believer is going to hear one of these two sentences - well done, good and faithful servant... or throw out this wicked and lazy servant. It's up to you which sentence you hear.
Every believer is going to end up in one of two places, either into the joy of their master... or the outer darkness where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth. It's up to you where you spend eternity.
It's interesting this slave didn't really do any sinful thing. He didn't murder anyone, he didn't commit adultery, he he didn't steal anything... it wasn't what he did, it's what he didn't do.
James 2:24; You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone.