What Will We Get?

Matthew 19:27-30

27 Then Peter answered and said to Him, “See, we have left all and followed You. Therefore what shall we have?” 28 So Jesus said to them, “Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My name’s sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life. 30 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.

A rich man refused to give up his possessions and follow Jesus, but the disciples had left everything to follow Him, so Peter wanted to know what their reward would be. In essence, he was asking, “What will we get for the sacrifices we’ve made?” We don’t know if Peter asked this question with a heart of greed or with a heart of true inquisitiveness about the kingdom of heaven. If he was looking for an immediate reward, then it would have been asked out of greed. If he was curious about an eternal reward, then his question was driven by a desire to know more about Christ’s kingdom. Whatever his motive, Jesus answered by speaking about His coming kingdom and the eternal rewards that accompany it. He told the disciples what they could expect and the exponential reward anyone would receive for making sacrifices for His sake. Then He said everyone who follows Him would inherit eternal life. He concluded with the cryptic saying, “Many who are first will be last, and the last first.”

Everyone wants to know the cost-to-reward ratio. In business, this is sometimes called the risk/reward ratio or the benefit/cost ratio. When you make a purchase, you consider the price you pay compared to the benefit it will bring you. Is it worth it? When you are offered a job, you consider the work you will have to do compared to the salary you will receive. Is it worth it? If you don’t think the cost-to-reward ratio benefits you, then you don’t make the purchase or you don’t accept the job. Peter may have asked this question to determine if the cost-to-reward ratio of his sacrifices were worth the benefits he would get in a spiritual kingdom. Many people today think the cost-to-reward ratio is not worth any spiritual blessings they might receive. They don’tsacrifice for the Lord because they don’t believe He will repay them a hundredfold. Neither dothey believe humbling themselves will grant them a position of authority. And many doubt eternal life even exists, let alone that they could receive it. Both Christians and non-Christianshave trouble making sacrifices for the Lord because they don’t believe the cost-to-reward ratio is worth their while. Yet, Jesus promises if you follow Him you will reign with Him in glory. He promises you blessings a hundred times better than the best things on earth. And He promises eternal life to everyone who follows Him. Those are great rewards! So what sacrifices are you willing to make for the Lord now that you know the blessings you could receive? Is it worth it? Yes, it is!