MATERIAL WEALTH

MATERIAL WEALTH

"For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard.” Matt. 20:1

It was only natural that the emphasis He placed upon the necessity of His death should have raised questions in the disciples' minds about the promised Kingdom and their own part in it. On this point, therefore, Christ hastens to reassure them. They are not to be afraid, for it is the Father's good pleasure to give them the Kingdom (Luke 12:32). How many in the church wonder if there ever will be a kingdom? Hence, there is no need for preoccupation about material possessions. The important and immediate duty is to lay up treasure in heaven, and to be watching for the Lord's return from heaven with their reward. At that time the faithful will participate in the ruler ship over the King's household (Luke 12:33-44). We come back to earth from heaven to rule and reign here, and we do this in eternal bodies with the minds of Christ.

                This teaching is substantially repeated a little later in reply to a question that arose out of our Lord's attitude toward material wealth in the case of the rich young ruler. The question was voiced by Peter: "Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee, what shall we have therefore?" (Matt. 19:27). And the Lord's answer is categorical: "Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel" (Matt. 19:28). This comforting promise of reward to the Twelve, moreover, is extended generally in Matt. 19:29 to "every one" who has made sacrifices and suffered loss for His "name's sake." All such shall "receive an hundredfold." The immediate and close connection with Matt. 19:28 places the time of their recompense at the future "regeneration" of the world to be effected by the establishment of the Kingdom. Meyer remarks that Matt. 19:29 can certainly have no other reference but to the recompense in the future kingdom of the Messiah. But as to the exact position of each one in the coming Kingdom, they are to remember that "many that are first shall be last, and the last shall be first" (Matt. 19:30). The explanation of this seeming paradox is to be found in the principle of divine grace which will be operative even in the bestowal of rewards. To illustrate this, our Lord adds a parable about the "kingdom of heaven," the chief point of which is that its King is always sovereign in the giving of His rewards (Matt. 20:1-16) and He knows the hearts of all in His Kingdom..