Receive a Hundred Times as Much
And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life.
Matthew 19:29
Jesus tells us that whatever we give up to live the Christian life, we will receive a hundred times as much. It’s exactly what the apostle Paul said concerning the things he gave us for following Christ: What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ” (Philippians 3:8). One of Satan’s strongest lies is that Christ cannot give us a better life than a life driven by our fleshly desires. Therefore he tempts us to hang on to worldly pleasures and give them priority over God.
If we examine our lives carefully we may find that we give priority to some worldly pleasure instead of giving it to God. One of the most common things that Christians give priority to over God is our hearts, and our hearts are reflected by our thoughts. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things (Colossians 3:2). A worldly heart finds things of the world more interesting than things of God.
We receive a hundred times as much when our hearts are Christ centered, and when we live for Christ with the knowledge that we exist to point people toward the Kingdom. We are to love the Lord more than anyone or anything, and we are to give him priority over everything. Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me” (Matthew 10:37). When we love the Lord most, we have more love to give to our families and to the world.
When our love for the Lord is stronger than anyone or anything, we have reached the point where we are closer to the Lord than we are to the world. The goal is for our souls to be closer to the Lord than our flesh is to the things of this world. In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples (Luke 14:33). This verse implies that serving the Lord has priority over everything, and that should be the desire of our hearts.
A heart for God finds the things of God far more interesting and rewarding than the things of the world. Meditating on God and his Word, praying, and fellowship with our Christian brothers and sisters are the most exciting, fulfilling, and rewarding things in life. We live to serve the Lord and to be a light for Christ.
We have now received a hundred times as much as we have given up, because heaven has filled our souls. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength. (Philippians 4:13). Paul lived with his soul in the Kingdom while his flesh lived in the world. His soul was closer to God than it was to the world. We receive a hundred times as much as we give up when we surrender everything to God. We cannot perfectly surrender, but we can eliminate things that take priority over God.
Today be aware if you tend to give something priority over God, and ask the Lord for guidance through your day; guidance for your thoughts, words, and choices. Invite the Lord into your day because he will guide you in his wisdom with a heart of love and compassion. Receive from the Lord things that are hundred times better than things of the world, such as love, peace, joy, wisdom, contentment, security, confidence, and patience, along with less fear, worry, and anger.
Let’s Pray: Lord thank you for filling my soul with heaven, and molding me to be more Christ-like every day. Open my heart and mind to live by the Spirit, and fill my heart with your love to be a light for Christ wherever I go. Keep molding me to be the Christ-like person you created me to be. In Jesus name, Amen.