Back To Home Page To Archives - Spring of Life - H. Roger Bothwell A Hundred Fold Following Jesus and making sacrifices is a rich experience. According to Paul "eye hath not seen" the rewards that come to those who make the smartest commitment ever. But today I listened with dismay to a television preacher use Mark 10:28 – 30 as a goad to get people to send him money. The verse says, "Then Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee. And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, … for my sake, and the gospel's, but he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, … with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life." He very conveniently left out Jesus' mention of persecutions. He turned the Gospel into an investment tip. The Gospel of Mark had become one of those emails we get informing us of the next hot stock. If I would send him a thousand dollars in just a few days God would send me one hundred thousand dollars. I certainly don't want to discourage anyone from giving offerings to a ministry or cause that is a source of blessing, giving in itself is the blessing, but turning the Gospel into a financial investment falls into the category of the moneychangers Jesus cast out of the temple. In Malachi God promises to pour out heaven's blessings on us when we tithe. But there is no promise those blessings will come in the form a fatter bank account. The blessings come in health, relationships, spiritual understanding, intellectual growth and best of all eternal life. I'm Roger Bothwell and my address is roger.bothwell@verizon.net or 151 Old Farm Rd. Leominster, MA 01453. Thank you for your support of our faith ministry. Past devotionals can be accessed at Archives