What Jesus said about riches, rewards and persecutions.

What Jesus said about riches, rewards and persecutions.

“Then Jesus looked around and said to His disciples, ‘How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the Kingdom of GOD!’ And the disciples were astonished at His words. But Jesus answered again and said to them, ‘Children, how hard it is for those who trust in riches to enter the Kingdom of GOD! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of GOD.’ And they were greatly astonished, saying among themselves, ‘Who then can be saved?’ But Jesus looked at them and said, ‘With men it is impossible, but not with GOD; for with GOD all things are possible.’ Then Peter began to say to Him, ‘See, we have left all and followed You.’ So Jesus answered and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel’s, who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time–houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions–and in the age to come, eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last first.’” Mark 10:23-31 NKJV (emphasis mine)

This follows the encounter with the rich young man who wanted to know how to inherit eternal life. Mark 10:17-22, also study Matthew 19:16-30 and Luke 18:18-30.

In all three accounts there is an emphasis on those who leave everything in this life to do the will of GOD that they will receive in this life many times more than what they left.

What is the will of GOD? It is not the giving of money to ministries so that you can receive more money in return. While this is a Biblical principle of sewing and reaping it is not doing the will of GOD! The will of GOD is to take up our cross and follow Jesus, leaving everything if necessary. Those who do this are not concerned about receiving in this life time rewards for they are committed to the will of GOD no matter the cost and understand that they are building up treasure in Heaven. Study Matthew 6:9-13, 19-21, 24, 7:21, 10:34-39; John 6:38-40; Luke 22:42; Mark 8:34-38.

Mark’s account is the only one to emphasize persecutions with the rewards in this life time, Matthew’s account emphasizes the special reward for the Apostles.

Post script: “We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are distinguished, but we are dishonored! To the present hour we both hunger and thirst, and we are poorly clothed, and beaten, and homeless. And we labor, working with our own hands. Being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure; being defamed, we entreat (exhort, encourage). We have been made as the filth of the world, the offscouring of all things until now. I do not write these things to shame you, but as my beloved children I warn you. For though you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel. Therefore I urge you, imitate me. For this reason I have sent Timothy to you, who is my beloved and faithful son in the LORD, who will remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach everywhere in every church.” 1 Corinthians 4:10-17 NKJV (emphasis mine) Study the whole chapter, Paul is making it clear that doing the will of GOD is not living the life of comfort and waiting. While it does not mean that GOD is calling all Christians to a life of hardship and suffering for Christ’s sake we should always be seeking His will rather than our comfort.

Jesus himself said that we would be hated and persecuted for His sake because they hated and persecuted Him because He proclaimed the Father and the Kingdom of Heaven. Read the Red!