“Yes,” Jesus replied, “and I assure you that everyone who has given up house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or property, for my sake and for the Good News, will receive now in return a hundred times as many houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and property—along with persecution. And in the world to come that person will have eternal life. [Mark 10:29-30 (NLT)]
If I were doing what accountants call a cost-benefit analysis of our living in Florida, the cost side would include venomous snakes, poisonous cane toads, hurricanes, alligators, sink holes, fire ants, and mosquitos along with humidity, allergies, high insurance, and seasonal traffic. On the other hand, the benefits would include never having to shovel snow, scrape sleet from a windshield, or drive on icy roads, along with the enjoyment of beaches, beautiful birds, colorful flowers, ocean breezes, “early-bird” specials, sunshine, no state income tax, and never-ending summer. While not one hundred times better, the pluses outweigh the negatives and make it worthwhile (at least for us)!
When Peter asked Jesus how His followers would be rewarded, he simply was doing a cost-benefit analysis. Knowing the sacrifices they made, he wanted to know the reward. At first, Jesus’ answer to the disciple’s question seems the kind of puffery we’d expect from politicians and used car dealers. Promising blessings both in this life and in the next, Jesus assured Peter of a hundredfold return. A return of 100% would be exactly what had been forsaken but a return of a hundredfold is one hundred times better than whatever was sacrificed!
As for that hundredfold return of houses, property, and family—thank you, Jesus, but I don’t want 100 houses, 200 cars, 100 spouses, or 300 children, let alone 500 grands! I’ve got more than I can handle with what I have right now! While any people or things we sacrifice to follow Jesus are literal, common sense tells us that any people or possessions gained are figurative, spiritual, and eternal. A soul, while not of substance, is irreplaceable and its worth is incalculable! Additionally, along with eternal life, Christ’s followers actually do get a new and larger family in His church and a new home in His Kingdom! Moreover, His promise was not one of prosperity! Although Jesus promised His followers their lives would be richer for their sacrifices, He never said they’d be wealthier!
Unlike politicians and car dealers who might hide the true cost of their promises, Jesus reiterated the price of discipleship throughout the Gospels. In fact, smack dab in the middle of that hundredfold return, He promised persecution! While we prefer His promised blessings to any persecution, sacrifice, trials, or suffering, they’re a package deal—we won’t get one without the other. Moreover, that hundredfold return is conditional! The sacrifices are to be made for His sake and that of the gospel rather than for personal gain. Jesus never promised that life will get easier when we follow Him but He did promise that it would become immeasurably better—both in this world and the next!
Jesus told us to count the cost before choosing to follow Him. A cost-benefit analysis of discipleship tells us the price we pay is our lives but the benefits of God’s Kingdom and eternal life outweigh the cost more than a hundredfold! There certainly are times serving Jesus and His church with our time, talents, gifts, and money seems a heavy price to pay but true discipleship (and all of the sacrifice, difficulty, and even persecution that may arise from it) comes with the territory just as living with hurricanes and mosquitos come with retiring in Florida! In both cases, it’s more than worth it.
Not one man has ever sacrificed for his Lord without being richly repaid. If the cross is only contrasted with earthly pleasures lost, it may seem hard and threatening. But when the cross is weighed in the balances with the glorious treasures to be had through it, even the cross seems sweet. [Walter J. Chantry]
Devotions of the Heart 