A few years into my entering into full-time ministry, I got talking with a dear friend. After speaking for a while about what we left to face ministry full-time, we came to the conclusion that Jesus left more to save humanity. Ours is not a sacrifice compared to the blessing of calvary. God will not cheat us.
Friend, God will not cheat you. Any thought that makes it seem like you are better off not serving Jesus or obeying God is from the pit of hell (Job 2:9-10). God does not take from us. He actually gives to us. Serving God does not rob you of pleasure and prosperity. It actually brings the same. When you are on purpose and for purpose, pleasure, and prosperity will follow (Psalms 16:11, 23:6).
God may not pay every month’s end, but He surely pays. With God, pay day always comes. He does not cheat any man, and He won’t begin with you (Galatians 6:7-9). The problem, most times, is that we compare our lives in the kingdom with others. Listen, we are running a different race from the people of the world. We are in different kingdoms with different systems and operations (Matthew 6:31-33).
A life of comparison is a thief of joy and an assassin of great destinies (2 Corinthians 10:12). Don’t make your worldly friends and social media celebrities your standard of success. You are not running the same race. You are not headed in the same place. Focus on your calling and journey (Hebrews 12:1-2). God will not cheat or owe you.
If the devil tells you that you missed a lot following Jesus, tell him it’s true. You actually missed a lot. You missed a life of sin and struggles. You missed serving Satan and his agenda (Luke 1:74). You missed sicknesses and diseases. You missed untimely death. You missed confusion and purposelessness. You missed eternal damnation.
When Peter reminded Jesus that they had left all to follow Jesus. He did not shut him up. Rather, He assured Peter that their sacrifices would not go unrewarded (Mark 10:28-30). Jesus did not only promise eternal rewards. He also promised earthly rewards along with persecutions. Expect people to persecute you wrongly the moment God begins to reward your followership of Him. It is part of the package. God will not cheat you. Amen.
‘Demola Awoyele
Lead Pastor,
Destiny Impact Church
Akure, Nigeria