Too Much Gain

Scripture: Hebrews 11:24-26 (Amplified Bible)

24 [Aroused] by faith Moses, when he had grown to maturity and become great, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, 25 Because he preferred to share the oppression [suffer the hardships] and bear the shame of the people of God rather than to have the fleeting enjoyment of a sinful life. 26 He considered the contempt and abuse and shame [borne for] the Christ (the Messiah Who was to come) to be greater wealth than all the treasures of Egypt, for he looked forward and away to the reward (recompense).

Recompense means to give something by way of compensation (as for a service rendered or damage incurred to pay for all that one had to go through – according to Merriam-Webster). What an awesome God, we owe him everything! He paid it all for us and yet when we make a choice to live for Him, he still keeps on giving to us. Moses found out that whatever he walked away from could never measure up to what God would do for him.

Look at Moses

He was raised with a silver spoon in his mouth, so to speak. He could have inherited all the riches of Egypt. It is hard to comprehend the luxuriousness of his surroundings and all he had at his disposal. I have heard that Pharaoh’s Kingdom was worth over twenty billion dollars, that is a huge inheritance. Most of us might say, “What a fantastic future!” if we are thinking of only temporal possessions. What words of wisdom would you have given Moses? “Keep the inheritance, Moses, there is not a thing you can do to help those Israelites.” Or, would you say, “Moses, following God is much more rewarding, now and for all eternity.”?

Moses was recognized throughout the known world of his time as the grandson of Pharaoh. Yet, as he looked at the ill treatment of his people from the borders of the palace, it was a scene that gripped his heart. I am sure after much observation and meditation, Moses made his choice to be identified with his people from the other side of the tracks. He saw that all the pomp and glory of his environment was nothing compared to serving God. Moses saw it as gain and not a loss. He considered the consequences of his future and saw that living for God would give back more than he could ever possess in Pharaoh’s court.

Now, let’s ask ourselves a few questions:

How much would we be willing to let go of if it was standing in the way of our commitment to God? Is our identity and self-worth in an inheritance, checkbook, bank account, person or a lifestyle? As God’s child, if we are not careful, the temporal things of this world can become stumbling blocks in our total dedication to God. If those things are our only security, then we have missed what Moses discovered. Where will it get us in the long run, to spend all of our time and efforts on having stuff, if we leave God out of the equation?

Moses had to make a choice, he must walk away from the wealth of Egypt if he was going to identify himself with the poor and downtrodden Israelites, who just happened to be God’s chosen people.

Security, identity and self-worth are characterized in Christ.

We might quickly say, “I will agree with that,” however, test your actions by God’s Word and see if you have the faith of Moses. He saw that he had too much to gain by identifying with God’s people.

Do you know Jesus as your personal Savior? If your answer is no, is it worth selling your soul for the fleeting enjoyments of this sinful world? Understand that the Messiah offers greater wealth than all the treasures of this world. What is your soul worth?

• Matthew 6:33
  “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”
• Matthew 19:29
  And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name’s sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.

May God be the center of your life,