This principle Jesus illustrated further by a direct address to the Pharisee who had invited Him. "When thou makest a dinner or a supper; call not thy friends, nor thy brethren, neither thy kinsmen, nor thy rich neighbours; lest they also bid thee again, and a recompense be made thee. But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind: and thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just."
Peter and the question of recompense.
The question of recompense has disturbed many people; unfortunately, it is still uppermost in the minds of some. It was undoubtedly the question of recompense that troubled Peter when he said to Jesus, "Lo, we have left all, and have followed Thee." We may imagine that the rest of his thought ran somewhat like this: What shall be our reward? Jesus very promptly answered, "Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of God's sake, who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come life everlasting."
"But many that are first shall be last; and the last first."
The reward worth while.
Jesus did not discourage entirely, then, the idea of rewards. But He emphasized the necessity of the pure and upright motive, and service for the sake of service. Then, those who serve shall receive a reward—not material, perhaps, but spiritual—which shall fill their lives here, and assure life everlasting hereafter. What does it matter, after all, if one lose one's worldly possessions but gain contentment of soul and an assurance of eternal exaltation? There are men who are possessed of untold material wealth who would give all to gain the simple testimony of Jesus possessed by the simplest and humblest member in the Church of Christ. Indeed, true contentment—which is the chief reward of a well-spent life—can come only as the result of service unselfishly rendered. Neither wealth nor poverty can bring about the worth-while, spiritual reward of an act prompted by a worthy motive. And without question, many that are first, in this world, shall be last in the day of judgment.
Conclusion.
This we have, then, to let sink deep into our hearts: Jesus would have us guard the motives of our acts; He would have us understand that our acts are but the outward fruits of our inner thoughts; with our motives pure, He would have us perform good deeds without thought of reward; He would have us do good where no recompense can be had; He would have us remain meek and humble in thought, in word, and in deed, innocent of any selfish act. Then will He recompense us with a reward, indeed: satisfaction, contentment, spiritual light, the goods of this world as we shall need them, and life everlasting, the greatest gift of God.
"Everyone who exalts himself shall be humbled,
And he who humbles himself shall be exalted."