In yesterday’s reading from Mark 10:13-31 there are these words.

“receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and lands,”

If you have read the assignment you know that is not what was said and you know there is much more to the telling than the false appearance of a reward. It looks that way to a certain group of students of the Word because they have tunnel vision. All they are looking for is “what’s in it for me?”

Throughout history we can name the condition if not specific names. Christendom gathered a bad reputation over the centuries because of bad actors. They gained control of peoples, cities, countries and continents because all their tunnel vision would allow them to see what was in it for them.

What I left out of the original quote is your only reward in this present time. Brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children are your reward.

2 Corinthians 12:17-19 Did I make a gain of you by any of them whom I sent unto you? I desired Titus, and with him I sent a brother. Did Titus make a gain of you? walked we not in the same spirit? walked we not in the same steps? Again, think ye that we excuse ourselves unto you? we speak before God in Christ: but we do all things, dearly beloved, for your edifying.

Proverbs 11:30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.