Mark 10:28-31 (NIV): Peter said to him, “We have left everything to follow you!”
“I tell you the truth,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age (homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields–and with them, persecutions) and in the age to come, eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”
It is safe to say that, even though both the disciples and Jesus were talking about the same subject, the disciples were hearing Jesus say something different than what He was actually saying. That frequently happened during the run-up to Jerusalem, because the disciples’ worldview had them firmly focused on the things of this world, not on the kingdom of heaven.
Peter had just heard Jesus tell the rich young man that the one thing he lacked to gain eternal life was a wholehearted devotion to God. His heart was torn because of the hold his wealth had on him. In order to break that hold, he needed to sell all that he had, give all of the proceeds to the poor, and THEN he could follow Jesus. But, of course, his wealth meant too much to him, so he went sadly away. This provided the opportunity for Jesus to point out that it was impossible, without God’s help, for the rich to get into God’s kingdom, because worldly wealth can so quickly and effectively pull a person’s heart away from God and His priorities.
That’s when Peter wanted to know where he (and the rest of the disciples) stood. They had given up a lot to follow Jesus – their jobs, their families, their old way of life. So what about them?
Jesus’ answer has been embraced by those who preach a prosperity gospel, and explained away by those who don’t seem to have received all that it promises. But the principle in this one sentence is true, and the disciples did experience this dynamic working in their own lives.
Jesus promised that those who left all behind to follow Him – home, family, and possessions, such as fields – would receive 100 times as much in this world. Jesus’ disciples never became rich in worldly possessions, but they did get to experience all of this huge blessing.
They had all left their homes for Jesus, but, as each traveled through the world sharing the gospel, each found homes with those who were living in or interested in the kingdom. (For example, Peter’s sojourn with Simon the Tanner in Acts 9-10, and Paul, who stayed with people who feared the Lord in every town that he visited.)
The disciples had left family (and some, no doubt, had family leave them because they were not willing to follow Jesus themselves), but in exchange, they found brothers, sisters, mothers, and fathers in abundance among those in God’s kingdom; people who grew to be even closer than flesh-and-blood family.
And the disciples had left worldly wealth behind, but in a short time they found people bringing their wealth and money and laying it at the disciples’ feet (cf. Acts 5:34-35). The difference was that the disciples realized that none of this property or money belonged to them, but to the kingdom. So they distributed it to all of those in need. John Wesley was much the same. In his later years, great wealth passed through his hands. But he only took a meager salary, eating very plain food, and wearing plain and durable clothing, and passed the rest on to those in need.
Jesus noted also that even through those blessings would come with persecutions and trials, and that the disciples would be counted as the bottom of the barrel, that they would also end in eternal life, where those who claim nothing of their own will receive a kingdom from God’s own hand (cf. Matthew 5:3, 10).
Father, some might feel cheated or short-changed by seeing things in this way, but that is only because our eyes are too much focused on the things of this world, including worldly wealth. Help us to see clearly, Lord, that even if we were to gain multiplied millions of dollars in this world, that this world and all that it contains is passing quickly away, and that only that which we give away, that which passes through our hands in the name of Jesus to those in need, goes with us into the next world. Help us to turn away from pursuing the things of this world, and instead to first seek Your kingdom, and Your righteousness. Then all that we truly need will be given to us. (cf. Matthew 5:33) That is great riches indeed!