Suffering and Riches

"By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, ²⁵ choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, ²⁶ esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward."

Hebrews 11:24-27

Isn't the eternal perspective Moses maintained amazing?  He willingly chose suffering with the people of God rather than enjoying the passing pleasures of sin.  He saw reproach for God's sake - for Christ's sake - greater riches than the treasures of Egypt!  Moses had not received his heavenly reward in full when he obeyed God at great personal cost, yet faith in God enabled him to see beyond his own pains and to the goodness of God who called and empowered him.

I must be honest:  my flesh never holds reproach for any reason in high esteem!  Who rejoices when others disagree and express their strong disapproval of them or their beliefs?  If we have faith in God like Moses, Christians should.  This understanding will revolutionalise the life of a Christian and how we deal with suffering, trials, and persecution.  Jesus said in Matthew 5:10-12, "Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. ¹¹ Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. ¹² Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you."  The disciples filled with the Holy Spirit understood this.  When they had been beaten for doing good, they rejoiced to have been counted worthy to suffer shame for Christ's sake (Acts 5:41).  With their suffering God provided more abundant consolation.

Everyone in this world suffers, but only those whose suffering is mixed with faith in God benefit spiritually and are richly blessed.  Whilst in New Zealand, God brought to mind a person navigating a field of tall weeds.  Walking through weeds causes all manner of painful, prickly thorns and stickers to poke through socks and shoes.  When a person comes through the other side and feels the discomfort of the sharp plant matter clinging to socks and even piercing flesh, the person takes the time to pull out each one.  These stickers are a painful nuisance, and we would never think to place them carefully in a container as mementos of our journey.  No!  We throw them to the ground as rubbish, and the pain caused by them teaches us to avoid the tall grass in the future.  The painful irritation was only a waste of time, and no practical benefit or what could be conceived as blessing was received.

When our suffering for Christ is mixed with faith in Him, God redeems and makes precious even our pains we experience as we follow Him.  Those painful circumstances God can redeem as priceless spiritual gems which cling to us as we walk in obedience to Jesus.  Consider the great implications of this!  Instead of fearfully avoiding persecution or potential trials we can wade right in, knowing God has great treasures of grace for us to receive and enjoy.  Do you esteem the reproach of Christ greater riches than all the gold and treasures of the nations?  Since God has set aside great rewards for you believer, are you willing and committed to endure trials of faith so you might receive your full reward to the glory of God?  Blessed and rich beyond measure are such who make God their refuge!  Upheld by God through faith we should not grit our teeth, but we can rejoice according to Christ's command.