Gene’s Daily Scriptural Postings

30 July 2025

Jesus promises that we will receive a hundred times as much as what we give up and leave behind for the sake of the Gospel. He also said we would receive that hundredfold return in this life, not in eternity.

Yet Christians in general, and especially ministers, tend to be relatively poor. Why is that?

One reason might be the persecutions that Jesus said come along with this promise. Many believers aren't willing to walk through the persecution that comes with receiving abundant material blessing from God, especially when that persecution tends to come strongest from other believers.

Perhaps God mercifully refrains from pouring out abundant material blessing on His people because of their unwillingness to face the persecution that it would bring.

Jesus said, “Most certainly I tell you, there is no one who has left house, or brothers, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or land, for my sake, and for the sake of the Good News, but he will receive one hundred times more now in this time: houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and land, with persecutions; and in the age to come eternal life. But many who are first will be last; and the last first.” — Mark 10:29-31B)