Sacrifice & Eternal Rewards?

PRAYER: Good morning LORD.  No matter what is on my mind or what I am going through, today is a good day because You made it good.  I want to thank You LORD for dreams and ambition.  For placing the right desires on my heart and the clear direction in pursuing them.  Thank You Father God for the comfort that only You can provide when things don't seem to be going my way.  Thank You for providing that call, email, text, smile, hug, pat on the shoulder-whatever it is, in the right time.  Use me LORD to be that for someone else, as we're here to be a blessing to one another.  Thank You LORD for being an all-knowing God, that I can stand confident that where I lack, You've got everything.  And Your intentions towards me are always for the good, because You are a loving, kind, merciful and forgiving God.  You are awesome!  Thank You for life and most importantly the honor of serving You.  Bless You LORD.  In Jesus' name, amen.

MATTHEW 19:16-30 part 5

THE RICH YOUNG MAN: 

emphasis on verses 21-30

Jesus answered, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."

When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.

Then Jesus said to his disciples, "I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, 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."

When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, "Who then can be saved?"

Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."

Peter answered him, "We have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us?"

Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first."

In the Bible, God gives reward to His people according to His justice.  In the Old Testament, obedience often brought reward in life (Deuteronomy 28), but obedience and immediate reward are not always linked.  If they were, good people would always be rich, and suffering would always be a sign of sin.  As believers, our reward is God's presence and power through His indwelling Holy Spirit.  Later, in eternity, we will be rewarded for our faith and service.  If material rewards in this life came to us for every faithful deed, we would be tempted to boast about our own achievements and act out of wrong motivations.  Jesus assured the disciples that anyone who gives up something valuable for His sake will be repaid many times over in this life, although not necessarily in the same form.  For example, a person may be rejected by his or her family for accepting Christ (yes, this still happens today), but he or she will gain a loving Savior and the larger family of believers.  Jesus turned the world's values upside down.  Consider the most powerful or well-known people in our world--how many got where they are by being humble, self-effacing, and gentle?  Not many!  But in the life to come, the last will be first.  Don't forfeit eternal rewards for temporary benefits.  Be willing to make sacrifices now for greater rewards later.  Be willing to accept human disapproval, while knowing that you have God's approval.

Wow!  I know I needed to hear this today!  How about you?

HOW IMPORTANT ARE HUMAN APPROVAL AND TEMPORARY BENEFITS IN COMPARISON TO YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD?