"…now in this time…"

There are many who criticize Christians and especially pastors for accumulating wealth.  But is there criticism Biblical?  Let's see what Jesus has to say about it. 

 

Mark 10:29-31(NKJV)

So Jesus answered and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel’s, 

who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time—houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions—and in the age to come, eternal life. 

But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”

 

Here is what that verse is saying to me.  If you dedicate what you have to serving God, God will reward you with more of what you had.  To put it another way, the more you give away in the service of God, the more God will reward you with the things you gave away.  Does that make sense?  As a friend of mine used to say, "you can't out give God!".

 

The other point is that Jesus specified "now in this time".  In other words we don't have to wait until we get to Heaven to get this reward.  We get it while we are here on earth!

As you know I always look for confirmation in the Old Testament.  Take a look at Malachi.

Malachi 3:8-10(NKJV)

    “Will a man rob God?      Yet you have robbed Me!     But you say,     ‘In what way have we robbed You?’     In tithes and offerings.

    You are cursed with a curse,     For you have robbed Me,     Even this whole nation.

    Bring all the tithes into the storehouse,     That there may be food in My house,     And try Me now in this,”     Says the Lord of hosts,     “If I will not open for you the windows of heaven     And pour out for you such blessing     That there will not be room enough to receive it.

 

Isn't God saying pretty much the same thing here?  The more you honor God the more He will bless you? 

 

That looks like confirmation of a concept to me!