Jesus Teaches Me About Sacrificing for Faithfulness
From Matthew 19
God seems to really value the quality of sacrificial faithfulness. Look at marriage in v 3-9. When the Pharisees wanted to challenge Jesus on his stand regarding divorce, Jesus reminded them that marriage is about a man and woman discovering that their oneness grows out of their faithfulness to each other and that a hardened heart will not sacrifice for their spouse and this kind of heart will lead to unfaithfulness.
Jesus says in v 28-30 that those who sacrifice and are faithful will be rewarded greatly.
The rich young man (v16-24) was not willing to sacrifice and missed the reward of God because he would not follow in faithfulness.
In the middle of this chapter is a puzzle, a teaching on children (v13-15)
Children require sacrifice and faithfulness on the part of parents and other adults. Adults (especially when they are not the parents)often look to dismiss and discount the children as unimportant to them personally. Parents know of the sacrifice and faithfulness children require but they grow weary of the demands. Children live completely dependent upon the sacrifice and faithfulness of their parents and other adults. Even when they are disobedient, they still look to their parents for love and care.
When the disciples of Jesus were not being faithful to the children, Jesus rebuked them and received the children to bless them.
My heart must be willing to sacrifice for others if I want to be known as a faithful person. There can be no real faithfulness without sacrifice, and the more we sacrifice the more faithful we become. Jesus promises that sacrificial faithfulness leads to real and lasting rewards. I suspect it is the ones who have nothing left (the "last" in verse 30) are the ones who come out the real winners.
I am glad Jesus said that "MANY who are last will be first" - at least we will be in good company!
God seems to really value the quality of sacrificial faithfulness. Look at marriage in v 3-9. When the Pharisees wanted to challenge Jesus on his stand regarding divorce, Jesus reminded them that marriage is about a man and woman discovering that their oneness grows out of their faithfulness to each other and that a hardened heart will not sacrifice for their spouse and this kind of heart will lead to unfaithfulness.
Jesus says in v 28-30 that those who sacrifice and are faithful will be rewarded greatly.
The rich young man (v16-24) was not willing to sacrifice and missed the reward of God because he would not follow in faithfulness.
In the middle of this chapter is a puzzle, a teaching on children (v13-15)
Children require sacrifice and faithfulness on the part of parents and other adults. Adults (especially when they are not the parents)often look to dismiss and discount the children as unimportant to them personally. Parents know of the sacrifice and faithfulness children require but they grow weary of the demands. Children live completely dependent upon the sacrifice and faithfulness of their parents and other adults. Even when they are disobedient, they still look to their parents for love and care.
When the disciples of Jesus were not being faithful to the children, Jesus rebuked them and received the children to bless them.
My heart must be willing to sacrifice for others if I want to be known as a faithful person. There can be no real faithfulness without sacrifice, and the more we sacrifice the more faithful we become. Jesus promises that sacrificial faithfulness leads to real and lasting rewards. I suspect it is the ones who have nothing left (the "last" in verse 30) are the ones who come out the real winners.
I am glad Jesus said that "MANY who are last will be first" - at least we will be in good company!
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