If we listen to a health-wealth preacher, we might be convinced that the consequence of loyalty to Jesus would be material success. In the Old Testament, Psalms and Proverbs do indicate material blessings for an honest and upright life. Tithing under the Old Covenant promised material blessings. However, when we read Job and Ecclesiastes we see that the righteous can also suffer, even if occasionally just due to time and chance. There is a balance. What about the New Testament? Are the health-wealth crowd really spiritual or perhaps overly materialistic? What would Jesus say?
After having predicted his own suffering, Jesus highlighted a different consequence of loyalty to him and nowhere promised material blessings. In Matthew 16:24-28 Jesus predicted that at least some of his disciples would be killed for their faith. If our hope is in the material pursuits of this life, we are of all men most miserable. But, if our hope is in heaven, then we rise above this material world and look for blessings that last forever. True life is not in materialism and self-preservation, but eternity.
What Jesus expects from his disciples is self-denial, taking up the cross and following him. That hardly sounds like a life of materialistic self-indulgence. In fact, the often overlooked but literal intent of Jesus' words was to take up our cross and follow him to our own crucifixion. To follow Jesus is a total life commitment. A physical life lost due to loyalty to Jesus is eternal gain.
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