Are You Getting the Better End of the Deal?!?

When we look at our relationship with God and think of the paths that our lives have taken as a result of following Him, do you think that you are getting the better end of the deal? Are you thankful for what He has done for you, or do you feel as though you have had to give up too much or miss out? The thing that you and I miss never loose sight of is the fact that we are never giving God anything REALLY...What do I mean?!? I'll explain...
Any and everything that you and I do for His glory and to propagate His kingdom here on earth is rewarded! Now we may not have a treasure chest or money, or a new car, or even a roof over our head that we are able to call our own, but what we lack here in this minuscule existence that we call life, we gain for all of eternity in heaven.
2 Corinthians 4:16-17 tells us For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, works for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.
This passage was written by a man who had been beaten, thrown in jail, was homeless, was ridiculed and mocked, was thrown out of cities, who didn't have a penny to his name, and who was subjected to all forms of torment for simply preaching the gospel and trying to help people. So as you can see, you may not always be loved for doing what is right in the eyes of the Lord but we can expect this. The bible tells us in John 15:18-20 If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.
Never loose sight of the fact that no matter what it costs you t follow Jesus, whether it be friends, family, money, jobs, possessions, etc., YOU ARE GETTING THE BETTER END OF THE DEAL!