What Will I Get?
Then Peter answered and said to Him, “See, we have left all and followed You. Therefore what shall we have?” Matthew 19:27
There are some people who are utterly honest, and not afraid to speak their minds. Peter was one such man. He had the zeal, earnestness, and impulsiveness about him that is hard to miss. We often see him saying things when others are quiet. This is one such time, and his question – “We have left everything for you Jesus, so what shall we have?” Peter had just observed the tragic encounter with the rich young ruler. Tragic, because in all of the Bible I do not read a story of someone who comes so close, yet is so far from the Kingdom of God. If you remember, the rich young ruler came inquiring about how to enhance his lifestyle by adding to his good life, some godly favor for the after life. Jesus stunned him and told him to sell all and follow Him. He returned sadly, and Jesus made an intriguing comment, “it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God.” Peter, like every good man, applies the message to himself. And if I may presume upon Peter’s mind, he seems to be thinking, “This rich young ruler refused to give up his stuff – so he cannot obtain eternal life. Now we have given up, maybe not as much, but whatever we had, to follow you Jesus, so what is going to be our reward?” Peter is asking the question, “What will I get from following you, Jesus?”
It is a brave question, to some an almost blasphemous question. Consciously or not, I contend we have all in some fashion considered it. Is there anyone who has not at one point or another said, “Why?, Why me?” Are they not simply saying, “I don’t deserve this, I have done everything right, yet I see no reward.” It is an important question Peter asks on our behalf, “What will I get?” Jesus does not reprimand Peter for this unabashedly selfish question, but gives a forthright answer. He first tells him personally what he and the other 11 disciples can expect to get – authority in the glorious Kingdom. He then in general what all His disciples can expect to get – an exceptional return on investment. But that they will have no misunderstanding, Jesus concludes his answer with a parable of the workers that provides a fascinating insight into the principle of reward in God’s kingdom. You may read this parable in Matthew 20, but in essence, the parable is this: A landowner goes out and hires workers who are in the unemployment line. He hires them during the day at various times, so some work twelve hours, some six, some three, and some one. At the end of the day, the landowner pays them all one denarius, the fixed price for a day’s work to all of them. The ones who have worked all day are incensed. They forget that they were unemployed with no hope of making anything, but now others have more, so they expect more. They expect pay in proportion to their work. And then Jesus puts forward the principle of reward in the kingdom of God, “Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with my own things? Or is your eye evil because I am good. So the last will be first, and the first last.”
The principle is worth noting. Jesus is saying, Peter, it is true you will be rewarded, and it is true that you will be rewarded abundantly. Your expectation of reward is not wrong, but be careful lest you think that you deserved the reward. “What will I get?” is a good question to ask, but tread carefully – to ask this based on what you have done is like being the workers who suddenly expected more because they worked more.
In the Kingdom of God, we don’t get a reward because we gave up so much and we deserve it, we get it because of the goodness of God. If we were to receive nothing we have still received everything. It is all of grace! It is grace that gives us salvation, it is grace that enables us to respond to Jesus, and it is of grace that we are added to the vineyard. In other words, the sufficient reward is Jesus Himself.
I believe Peter learned this principle well for it is recorded in the book of Acts that “they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.”
Friend, what will you get for following Jesus? YOU WILL GET JESUS! A friend that sticks closer than a brother, almighty God who promises to never leave you and forsake you, the peace of God of the Heavens and the Earth with you, and an anchor in the storms of life!
And, yes, I almost forgot, that reward in Heaven!
Danesh Manik
_____________________________________________________
"A Soul’s Anchor” is a daily inspirational message prepared to challenge your mind, inspire your heart, and motivate you to anchor your soul in the person of Jesus Christ. If you know a friend who would enjoy receiving "A Soul’s Anchor" in their email box each day, tell them they can sign up by emailing us at subscribe@asoulsanchor.org . The messages may also be read at our website, http://www.asoulsanchor.org. To unsubscribe, please email, unsubscribe@asoulsanchor.org with your email in the subject line. To change to a weekly instead of a daily subscription, email weekly@asoulsanchor.org with your email in the subject line. For receiving messages by mail, please write to us at A Soul’s Anchor, India International Church, 3654 Okemos Rd., Okemos, MI 48864
There are some people who are utterly honest, and not afraid to speak their minds. Peter was one such man. He had the zeal, earnestness, and impulsiveness about him that is hard to miss. We often see him saying things when others are quiet. This is one such time, and his question – “We have left everything for you Jesus, so what shall we have?” Peter had just observed the tragic encounter with the rich young ruler. Tragic, because in all of the Bible I do not read a story of someone who comes so close, yet is so far from the Kingdom of God. If you remember, the rich young ruler came inquiring about how to enhance his lifestyle by adding to his good life, some godly favor for the after life. Jesus stunned him and told him to sell all and follow Him. He returned sadly, and Jesus made an intriguing comment, “it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God.” Peter, like every good man, applies the message to himself. And if I may presume upon Peter’s mind, he seems to be thinking, “This rich young ruler refused to give up his stuff – so he cannot obtain eternal life. Now we have given up, maybe not as much, but whatever we had, to follow you Jesus, so what is going to be our reward?” Peter is asking the question, “What will I get from following you, Jesus?”
It is a brave question, to some an almost blasphemous question. Consciously or not, I contend we have all in some fashion considered it. Is there anyone who has not at one point or another said, “Why?, Why me?” Are they not simply saying, “I don’t deserve this, I have done everything right, yet I see no reward.” It is an important question Peter asks on our behalf, “What will I get?” Jesus does not reprimand Peter for this unabashedly selfish question, but gives a forthright answer. He first tells him personally what he and the other 11 disciples can expect to get – authority in the glorious Kingdom. He then in general what all His disciples can expect to get – an exceptional return on investment. But that they will have no misunderstanding, Jesus concludes his answer with a parable of the workers that provides a fascinating insight into the principle of reward in God’s kingdom. You may read this parable in Matthew 20, but in essence, the parable is this: A landowner goes out and hires workers who are in the unemployment line. He hires them during the day at various times, so some work twelve hours, some six, some three, and some one. At the end of the day, the landowner pays them all one denarius, the fixed price for a day’s work to all of them. The ones who have worked all day are incensed. They forget that they were unemployed with no hope of making anything, but now others have more, so they expect more. They expect pay in proportion to their work. And then Jesus puts forward the principle of reward in the kingdom of God, “Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with my own things? Or is your eye evil because I am good. So the last will be first, and the first last.”
The principle is worth noting. Jesus is saying, Peter, it is true you will be rewarded, and it is true that you will be rewarded abundantly. Your expectation of reward is not wrong, but be careful lest you think that you deserved the reward. “What will I get?” is a good question to ask, but tread carefully – to ask this based on what you have done is like being the workers who suddenly expected more because they worked more.
In the Kingdom of God, we don’t get a reward because we gave up so much and we deserve it, we get it because of the goodness of God. If we were to receive nothing we have still received everything. It is all of grace! It is grace that gives us salvation, it is grace that enables us to respond to Jesus, and it is of grace that we are added to the vineyard. In other words, the sufficient reward is Jesus Himself.
I believe Peter learned this principle well for it is recorded in the book of Acts that “they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.”
Friend, what will you get for following Jesus? YOU WILL GET JESUS! A friend that sticks closer than a brother, almighty God who promises to never leave you and forsake you, the peace of God of the Heavens and the Earth with you, and an anchor in the storms of life!
And, yes, I almost forgot, that reward in Heaven!
Danesh Manik
_____________________________________________________
"A Soul’s Anchor” is a daily inspirational message prepared to challenge your mind, inspire your heart, and motivate you to anchor your soul in the person of Jesus Christ. If you know a friend who would enjoy receiving "A Soul’s Anchor" in their email box each day, tell them they can sign up by emailing us at subscribe@asoulsanchor.org . The messages may also be read at our website, http://www.asoulsanchor.org. To unsubscribe, please email, unsubscribe@asoulsanchor.org with your email in the subject line. To change to a weekly instead of a daily subscription, email weekly@asoulsanchor.org with your email in the subject line. For receiving messages by mail, please write to us at A Soul’s Anchor, India International Church, 3654 Okemos Rd., Okemos, MI 48864
posted by Danesh Manik | 4:13 PM
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