“The Gain Is Worth The Pain!”

“The Gain Is Worth The Pain!”(Mk.10:28-31).
A man came to Jesus asking to know what he must do to inherit eternal life? Jesus told him to keep the vertical commandments concerning human to human relationships. The man said he had kept all of them. Jesus told him, “One thing you lack. Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then, come follow me.”
The man left crestfallen “because he had great wealth.” This action led Jesus to tell his disciples that it is difficult for the rich to enter the kingdom of God. He said, “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”
These were hard words that amazed the disciples, and they wondered among themselves, “Who then can be saved?”
Jesus replied, “With man, this is impossible, but with God, all things are possible “(Mk.10:17-28).
Today’s text is a continuation of the above narrative: “Then Peter spoke up, ‘We have left everything to follow you!’ ‘Truly I tell you,’ Jesus replied, ‘no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age: homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—along with persecutions—and in the age to come eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last first.'”
This is one of the scriptural motivations for the development of Christian monastic life. Among the vows of monastic life are poverty, chastity, and obedience. (Ironically the monasteries eventually became wealthier than states when the wealthy willed their properties and estates to the monasteries as charities).
By the way, does discipleship actually mean antiriches? Jesus does not say “it is impossible” for rich people to enter the kingdom of heaven; he says, “It is difficult.” Being difficult does not mean being impossible. We may further ask whether one must sell all of one’s possessions before becoming a disciple? Jesus’ ministry was supported by wealthy disciples or sympathisers. Judas was the treasurer of his group. The group couldn’t function without funds.
However, the group did not intentionally set out to acquire wealth and enrich themselves by preaching pie in the sky while squeezing dry the followers for self-aggrandisement!
The rich man left sad because he objected to share his wealth with the poor.
In today’s context, faithful discipleship must not precede poverty or abandonment of family. Family and wealth should not be a priority. They shouldn’t be a distraction to discipleship.
There is nothing we lose in discipleship that won’t come back to us, manifold. Besides, the gains in this present world are nothing compared to the gain of eternal life when the ascended Lord returns in his glory.
As disciples, we must be conscious of the realities of discipleship. Discipleship is a mixture of promise and persecution, blessing, and suffering. Whatever God takes from us is requited in a glorious form. While we may face persecution now, there is the assurance of triumph to those who belong to God.
We must nonetheless guard against pride in sacrificial accomplishments, as demonstrated by Peter when he asked to know the gains of those who have abandoned everything to follow Christ! Such pride can cost those who are first to become last!
Take home: If you are rich, think of the poor. Let family and material possessions not become a distraction to discipleship. And beware of pride in sacrificial accomplishments.
Prayer: Holy Spirit, help me to focus on the gains of eternity and not on the multiplication of what I’ve left behind. Amen!
Have a blessed day! Peace be with you!
Rev Babila Fochang.
05/02/2026.