Peter answered him, “We have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us?” – Matthew 19:27
Rees Howells (1879-1950) was a Welsh coal miner for many years before becoming a prominent revival preacher in Wales in the early 1900’s. Every night for three years, Rees would finish his 12-hour shift in the mines and then walk 2 miles (each way) to take a Bible study to a neighboring village known for its bars, gambling, and prostitution. The weather never stopped him. One evening when he arrived home soaking wet from a torrential downpour, his father saw him and said, “I wouldn’t have walked there and back tonight for £20.” Rees softly replied, “Neither would I.”
Rees didn’t do it for money. He did it because he loved serving the Lord.
Peter’s question to Jesus in Matthew 19:27 was in response to what he had just witnessed: a rich young man, who appeared to be deeply religious and had everything going for him, was rejected by Jesus. In fact, this young man is the only person mentioned in the Bible who leaves the presence of Jesus sad and grieving.
To Peter, this man appeared to be an ideal candidate to be a disciple, ticking all of the religious boxes. The man’s material wealth was an obvious indicator of God’s favor and blessing – a cultural belief that’s still prevalent today.
But when Jesus challenged the man to part with his wealth and follow Him, the disciples found that utterly shocking. So shocking, in fact, that Peter began to wonder aloud if he and his fellow disciples would be rewarded for the sacrifices they’d made.
Dear Christian, let us not pretend that we, at some point, have not pondered the same question that Peter brought before the Lord. Nor let there be any doubt that within that question lies an attitude that borders on entitlement, as though we are the Lord’s hirelings and are due compensation. God’s kingdom economy isn’t like the world’s system of rewards, where work-done equals pay-received. God’s economy isn’t based on human sweat, but rather on the human blood that bought and paid for our precious salvation.
Peter’s question reflects what I would call a commercial spirit – the attitude that seeks to bargain with God. It is the spirit of the hired worker who calculates his worth by hours logged and sacrifices made. This spirit misses the very heart of discipleship. Christ did not call us to negotiate wages; He called us to deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Him (Matthew 16:24).
When we begin to calculate our service in terms of reward, we strip our obedience of love. The question is no longer, “How may I glorify Christ?” but rather, “What’s in it for me?” That is the subtle danger of the commercial spirit. It poisons worship with self-interest and turns ministry into mere transaction.
Jesus’ reply to Peter was gracious, yet corrective. He promised that those who follow Him would receive a hundredfold and inherit eternal life (19:28-29). But He immediately added the sobering warning: “But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first” (19:30). In other words, reward in the kingdom of God is not based on human calculations of effort, seniority, or visible sacrifice. It is determined by God’s sovereign grace and abundant generosity.
That’s why the parable that follows in Matthew 20 is so important. The landowner gave the same wage to those who worked one hour as to those who worked twelve. Why? Because the economy of heaven is not built on wages earned but on grace freely given.
God is not in debt to any man. He owes us nothing. Every gift we receive is a matter of His kindness, not our merit.
Beloved, let this truth sink deeply into your heart: God is far more generous than we deserve, and our service to Him never puts Him under obligation to us. Guard your heart against the commercial spirit that seeks to bargain with the Lord. Instead, serve Him as sons and daughters who delight in the Father’s generosity.
And remember… when the Lord rewards His children, it will not be a paycheck for services rendered but a gracious gift from His hand. Revelation 4:10 reminds us that the crowns we receive in glory will not be trophies of our labor, but testimonies of His grace, and we will cast them back at His feet.
Former Blackout Artist 