Adam’s Angle: Living the Good Life

It’s like the story of Jack and the Beanstalk, only this isn’t a fairy tale. It’s your life

You took that leap of faith to follow Jesus. You counted the cost and gave up that big money career, broke off that unhealthy relationship or moved 1,400 miles away from your roots. You did it for God. The decision seemed right. But now time has passed. The thrill has worn off and you’re wondering, “Did I make a mistake?”

Like Jack, you wonder if you foolishly sold your family’s possessions for a handful of “magic beans?”

If you gave up everything for a handful of magic beans, then yes, you are a fool. But if you gave up everything to follow Jesus you made a solid decision. Having Jesus plus nothing is far greater than having everything without Him — in both this life and in the life to come.

How the Other Half Live

If you think Jesus’ disciples were so super-spiritual that they never struggled, think again. In Mark chapter 10 the disciples are troubled by a conversation they overhear between Jesus and a rich young ruler. The wealthy young man comes to Jesus wanting to know how to inherit eternal life. Jesus confronts him with his sin, but also offers him the chance of a lifetime: “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me” (Mark 10:21).

The disciples, of course, had heard words like that before. Peter, Andrew, James and John gave up their fishing nets at Jesus’ invitation to follow him. Matthew gave up the tax booth. This scenario was nothing new. The disciples might have even been thinking, “Looks like Jesus has found someone else to join the crew. We’d better get to know this guy.”

But then something shocking happened. The kid walked away. He compared what he was “gaining” with what he was giving up. For the moment, at least, he decided it wasn’t worth it to follow Jesus.

This must’ve caused the disciples to reconsider their life-changing decisions. Sure, being part of the coming kingdom of God sounded glamorous, but there was a lot of hard work, too. They had to deal with the constant pressure from the crowds and the displeasure of the religious leaders. In exasperation, Peter told Jesus, “We have left everything to follow you!” (Mark 10:28). He wanted to know, was the reward worth the cost?

Peter got the comfort he needed to hear, straight from the mouth of Jesus: “I tell you the truth . . . no-one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age (homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields — and with them, persecutions) and in the age to come, eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last first” (Mark 10:29-31). The answer was clear: the trade off would be more than worth it, in this life and in the next.

But did that mean that the disciples’ trade would look exactly like what they expected? Did that mean Jesus intended for his disciples to become real estate moguls who would own 100 properties for every one they gave up? Would they literally gain 100 flesh-and-blood brothers or sisters for every one they left behind? (Their poor mom!) Clearly, no.

But the disciples would visit home after home in the meaningful work of the gospel, sharing lives with other brothers and sisters in Christ. They gave up what was already passing away so they could invest in the eternal. So don’t be surprised if your life of faith doesn’t quite look like what you thought it would. There is cost, but there is greater reward. Having lots of stuff isn’t living the good life, but following Jesus is.