…he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time…(Mark 10:30)
Should we be able to expect abundant blessings in this life, and in what form would they or do they come in? The problem is that some would use our verse above, and others like Matthew 6:33, “seek ye first the kingdom of God and all these things will be added unto you” and then declare that if you follow God that things such as money, influence, success, and significance will follow you. Using verses such as John 10:10, “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly”, they declare that God desires for all His children to have these “things” in abundance on earth.
You need to know how easy it is for someone to twist the text to say what they want it to say. The things Jesus was talking about in Matthew 6:33 were about physical provisions, yes it is true. Yes we will get some "things" taken care of, but how much we do not know, nor should we really care. We hear promises of a 30, 60, and even 100 times return on our “investment in the kingdom” thrown around a lot, but what many do not realize is that the investment is into a man's kingdom not God’s.
Indeed seek ye first, then God will care for you, but not always in the way we want, and I would contend that those whom seek Him as a means of social respectability or upward mobility first are not actually seeking Him at all, but seeking what He can give them.
"We are King's Kids, of course we should expect ‘favor’", they will say.
To that I reply, "Yes, we should, and so that we know what kind of favor we will get, what did His #1 kid get, and how about His cousin?"
The Apostles considered persecution the favor of God (Acts 5:41)...so did our Lord Jesus Christ (Matthew 5:11-12)...are you serving the right King?
12 comments:
Not much "favor" for this post?...
The favor we can expect is peace through those times when we are persecuted and peace in times of calamity and chaos.
dan:
did cindy tell you what to say? being that you were asleep and all?
I would contend that those whom seek Him as a means of social respectability or upward mobility first are not actually seeking Him at all, but seeking what He can give them.
It is so easy to become enamored of the gifts and forget the giver. The image that comes to mind is the child on Christmas morning. Does the child (me) open the gift and immediately begin to play with (praise) the gift or is the child's immediate response to embrace and thank his parents (the Father)? Sometimes I don't want to answer my own questions.
Good point, Tal. I hear you.
We hear of so many in the pulpits.... give-give- and you will be rich in material things. They miss the point.
Indeed...
Since this is a re-post, I suppose I ought to do a re-comment. :-)
When I read it this time, the ending really grabbed me.
...what kind of favor we will get, what did His #1 kid get, and how about His cousin?"
&
The Apostles considered persecution the favor of God... are you serving the right King?
Enjoy Oklahoma. I hope it's more than just OK. Ah, grandbabies... (sigh) someday, I hope.
Would that I could send this post to some of my kinfolk and have them understand........but probably they would just get mad at me!
Hey Craver, thanks, Chris, I know what you mean...
" ... and how about His cousin?"
That's a good thought.
And what about Job. And whose to say God wouldn't call us to endure all the way to the end.
And Lazarus the beggar didn't have it so great. But he was beloved of the Lord.
At the same time God has blessed me with a lot. But to whom much is given, much is required.
Now that's scary.
"To that I reply, "Yes, we should, and so that we know what kind of favor we will get, what did His #1 kid get, and how about His cousin?"'
Great point...
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