What will I get? is each person’s heart cry for an extra incentive in life. There were three such characters in the Bible who were curious to know about their reward. Knowing what the reward is, the first person used it wisely, second person was misled completely and the third group understood it correctly.
David’s perspective
David and Goliath: A familiar story to all where David is faced with this opportunity to fight a giant of a man named Goliath. He wanted to know what the reward was. In 1 Samuel 17 it states that, “David spoke to the men who were standing with him: “What will be done for the man who kills that Philistine and removes this disgrace from Israel? Just who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?”. However, it was not the incentive itself that encouraged David to fight the philistine giant but his taunt against the living God of Israel. David had the zeal and the courage to fight and kill the giant but at the same time it was also backed up with a curiosity to know what the reward could be. The reward was a great wealth, a royal marriage – marrying Saul’s daughter, Michal, and his family's tax exemption in Israel for killing Goliath. This reward was a great ransom, but it came with a heavy price. It also became a snare till king Saul was alive.
Let me emphasize that whenever one wants to attach the personal motivation to physical benefits, he/she is sure to encounter set of challenges that can possibly derail the journey. Spiritual motivation is not dependent on physical benefits.
Judas’ Perspective
Judas asked the chief priests, "What will you give me if I betray Jesus to you?"
Judas went to the chief priests and asked what they would give him to hand over Jesus. They agreed to pay him thirty pieces of silver. The gospel writers record that from then on, Judas began looking for an opportunity to betray Jesus. Money, power, wealth and fame is equated as a blessing from God is such a heresy that almost all fall for it. The end of Judas who lived with Christ, heard all His sermons and was active in mission work yet failed miserably for thirty pieces of silver.
The age-old question from the Disciples
The same question was again an important motivation when the disciples asked Jesus. The disciples, through Peter, said, "Look, we have left everything and followed you. So what will we have?" This passage, found in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke, they were asking Jesus what their reward would be for all the sacrifices they made to follow Him. The disciples had left their livelihoods, such as fishing nets, and their homes, families, and security to follow Jesus. The context here is that this question was asked after Jesus discussed the challenges of following Him and the requirements for entering the kingdom of God.
Jesus responded by promising them a great reward, both in this life and in the next, stating that they would receive "many times more" in this age, with a hundredfold return of family, homes, and fields, and eternal life in the age to come (Matthew 19:29). God tied the ultimate reward to eternal life. Their present was not easy. It was extremely challenging and difficult. The response completely satisfied the disciples that they were willing to suffer for Him and from history we find that almost all died as martyrs.
If you think following Christ must be attached with physical and materialistic blessing, then you have gravely mistaken. The major point of the book of Job is that Satan thinks Job will only stick with God if he has health and wealth. We are allegedly not ignorant of Satan’s devices. Yet the biggest teaching in the Church today is that faith in God leads to health and wealth. Don’t base your trust on God to find out what you will get to stabilize your life here on earth. Our ultimate hope and reward are eternal life. Having said that you will not be left on the lurch here on earth. You are promised an abundant life that ensures the Spirit of God to lead you all the days of your life.
You may read the last blog HERE