"There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands for My sake, and the gospel's, but he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life" (Mark 10:29,30).

The greatest of all investments is the investment of one's life for Jesus Christ. Some have forsaken the comforts of a home in order to serve the Lord. Others have foregone the delights of marriage and a family for the Gospel's sake. Still others leave behind the privilege of owning a few acres of real estate to claim countries and continents for the name of Christ. The Lord promises great dividends for the life that is lived in denial of self and service to Him.

Even persecutions are promised. At first this seems to be a sour note in an otherwise harmonious symphony. But Jesus includes persecutions as a positive return on one's investment. To share the reproach of Christ is greater treasure than all the wealth of Egypt (Hebrews 11:26). Those are the dividends in this life.

Then the Lord adds, what is perhaps the greatest of all His promised dividends for a life lived for Him, " … and in the world to come ETERNAL LIFE." This looks forward to eternal life in its fullness. Though eternal life itself is a gift received by faith, there will be differing capacities for enjoying it. Those who have left all to follow Jesus and learn of Him will share a greater degree of reward in the City Foursquare.

When we consider the transcendent returns from a life invested for God, it's strange that more people do not participate. Investors can be extremely shrewd when it comes to stocks and bonds, yet strangely dense when it comes to the best investment of all.

—William MacDonald (condensed)