DAY 17: REWARD

DAY 17: REWARD

SCRIPTURE:

2 Corinthians 4:17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.

OBSERVATION:

For those like me with a background in accounting and finance, the concept of Return on Investment is often on our minds. The fundamental principle of this concept is to give thought to how much money or returns we will get in the future for what we put in now. An accounting mind will see property in general as a good investment, as due to scarcity of land, the value of property in the future will be worth much more than the property I purchase today. On the other hands, the accounting mind will see cars as a be poor investments, as their value goes down with time.

Now, what Paul teaches us in this verse today, gives us an insight into Spiritual Return on Investment. Basically, Paul is saying, just endure the light affliction you are suffering today which is but for a moment, for your reward in Heaven which is eternal far outweighs anything you could experience today. Nevertheless, what Paul calls light affliction, was by no means trivial for the early church. They were chased out of their homes, beaten, flogged, stoned, killed and even crucified for their faith. However, in light of eternity, what is even 70 or 80 years here on earth? It is not even a second in comparison.

APPLICATION:

What constitutes affliction means different things to different people. To many of us, dragging ourselves to an early prayer meeting is affliction enough. To Christians in Iraq, affliction may mean leaving home with nothing but the clothes on their back, being hungry to the point of starvation, or even having their heads sawn off by a small knife. Whatever affliction or deemed affliction we may be called to endure, the priority for us is to have that long term mindset, believing that whatever we give up now for Christ is really so small compared to the everlasting reward that He promises to those who are loyal to Him. With that eternal mindset, and deep faith in our Lord, we will be then well equipped to face whatever the world may throw at us.

PRAYER:

Father Lord, we praise and worship You for you are eternal, unchanging. We praise thee Lord Jesus that You came to die and suffer for us, as an example and encouragement to us, that we too need not fear death and suffering because You came before us, to show us the way to life. Give us that eternal mindset O Lord we pray, that we may consider the sufferings of this present life trivial and fleeting compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing You and the joy of being forever with You in Heaven. We praise You and worship You, O Lord. In Jesus name, Amen.