Then Peter answered and said to Him, “See, we have left all and followed You. Therefore what shall we have? Matthew 19.27
Peter echoes some thoughts we may have muttered under our breath at some point. We may not have said those exact words, but sometimes we wonder if serving the Lord is worth the stress. The Bible doesn’t indicate when exactly during the three years journey with Jesus this discussion occurred. Many disciples had already abandoned their families or their means of livelihood without any assurance that they would be rewarded with prestigious positions or possessions.
Peter’s question was honest and somewhat desperate. It was obvious what they had signed up for what wasn’t quite what it had turned out to be. From eating the leftovers after feeding the multitudes or from cornfields as they travelled from one place to another on foot, to spending the night sleeping rough, facing the wind and the waves with no life jackets or emergency services, having barely enough to care for themselves let alone save or invest for the future, with Jesus’ death imminent, there was still no information about what will happen next. What’s in this for us?
It’s normal to expect a reward for any service offered. Even those who claim to run a charity do so to garner several donations or earn the attention of many; they hope their charitable deeds will earn a spot in the evening news or get many talking. Jesus mentions the promise of an eternal reward, but these disciples were keen on immediate and earthly benefits of following Jesus. What do you do when it seems like serving Jesus isn’t worth it compared to what those who care less about serving Jesus have?
If God has promised none of us a life free from troubles or a stash of possessions if we choose to follow him and serve him, why are we still following the Lord? Many must have thought the disciples had lost their minds when they followed a stranger from Galilee. And also, many must wonder why we continue to spend our time, effort, and resources for the kingdom when there isn’t a guarantee of an immediate and earthly reward? Why do we choose to follow the Lord?
It’s easy to commit to serving the Lord when the ministry you serve with is also committed to paying you for your service. When their rent bills, upkeep, and children’s school fees are sorted and their minds are free from worry, many will certainly go the extra mile in their service to the Lord. But many of us are asking God for grace to continue to serve when there are several unresolved issues in our families, our health, our finances, and faced with an uncertain future. We have left all but what do we have?
We must also be careful to ensure that we have heard clearly from the Lord to follow him ‘full time’. There are people who have abandoned their lucrative jobs and said that God has called them into full-time ministry but now cannot cater for their own needs and their families. Unlike the Levites in the Old Covenant, there are no instructions in the New Covenant expecting us not to work because we want to serve the Lord. The One who asked the disciples to leave it all behind and follow him would provide, protect and preserve them.
For many, serving the Lord seems like an opportunity to garner personal possessions and pursue a comfortable life. They say they can’t serve God and suffer, and they will jump ship at any hint of discomfort. Why am I serving the Lord? Why do I continue to spend my time, talent, and resources in the service of God’s kingdom? If I received no rewards now or ever, will I still serve the Lord? Am I committed to serving the Lord even when life gets rough and tough, or only when it’s convenient?
Our motives for serving would be exposed sooner than we think. Some are serving because they love Jesus and are aware they have a debt they can’t repay for all Jesus has done for them. Others serve the Lord because something compels them, directly or indirectly, and they will only serve when it is convenient or on their own terms. A handful are serving because they are aware of the brevity of life and that nothing else in this world matters besides giving their all to the One who gave His all for them.
After Peter denied Jesus and was later restored, after witnessing the outpouring of God’s Spirit on the day of Pentecost, and after the Lord miraculously delivered him from prison, I bet he wasn’t asking these same questions: what shall we have? Something happens to our perspectives, our priorities, and our prayer focus after we’ve been with Jesus. There was nothing wrong in asking Jesus then or even now if we will receive anything for all our labour and sacrifice. But at some point, our focus shifts, and serving the Lord is no longer about us. If all our prayers were answered, what else would we be living for?
If you’ve been serving the Lord and might wonder if all the labour and sacrifice for God’s kingdom is worth it with so much happening outside your control, with having more questions than you have answers, with so much musings in your heart about an uncertain future, I pray you will find encouragement in the words of Jesus – 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.
Nothing done for the Lord and for His glory will go unrewarded. God is not unjust; he will not forget your labour of love which you have shown and continue to. But I find it interesting that Jesus emphasises ‘for my name’s sake’. Many will be surprised because they will receive no reward since their actions for the kingdom were driven by selfish ambitions, not God’s glory. Let’s ask God to purify our hearts and our motives for service so that after we have preached to others, we won’t be asked to stand aside having been disqualified for the prize.
Why am I serving the Lord? The love that Jesus had for me to suffer on a cruel tree that I a ransomed soul might be, is more than tongue can tell. For rescuing me from sin, hell, death, and the grave and entrusting me with the ministry of reconciliation, there’s no greater joy than giving my all to the One who gave His all for me. That my life would be an offering, a sweet smelling fragrance to the Lord. If life doesn’t go as planned, Lord help me keep following you. If no one joins me, Lord, keep my gaze on you. When life gets overwhelming, grant me unusual grace to follow you. Amen.