Greater Riches

Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be defrauded?

Take a minute before reading any more and meditate on those questions from 1 Corinthians 6, and adapt your worldview to the Apostle Paul's.


This type of thinking and questioning just cuts directly to the heart of our selfishness. This question really separates the confessors from the professors, the transformed from the hypocrites. I read this and I consider his line of thinking and I ask myself, “How in the world could he reason like this?! What makes a man think it's strange to prefer not to be wronged and defrauded?”

And the answer that comes to me is that his God must have been so big! His God must have been so sweet to him. His God must have been so beautiful, and soul-satisfying, and captivating, and compelling. That he would gladly suffer loss of all things (Phil 3:8), prefer to be wronged and defrauded, and call it gain because He got Christ! He must have known and enjoyed one wonderful God!

What makes a man reason this way? What makes a man prefer to be wronged and defrauded for the sake of his brethren? He was looking to his great reward (Lk 6:35; Heb 11:26). He was seeking a better, lasting city (Heb 11:16, 13:14) than the present one that promised him vain, fleeting comforts. He was going after greater riches (Heb 11:26) than worldly ease and vindication.

I want to know and enjoy his God.

But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High.
- Luke 6:35 -

By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter,
choosing rather to endure ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, considering the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he was looking to the reward.
- Hebrews 11:24-26 -