1. Does It Pay In This life To Be A Christian?

2. Some are saying that Christianity is not for this age
Is it true that “You cannot get ahead in this world and be a Christian”?

3. We know that the ultimate reward for the Christian is heaven
HOWEVER – Is the Christian life worth it – HERE AND NOW?

4. I. There are costs

5. Sometimes people do not consider the cost of being a Christian
Lk. 14:28
[28] For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?

6. “There is a cost to being a faithful Christian
“There is a cost to being a faithful Christian. Some have started on life’s journey with Christ but decided it was more that they bargained for and have forsake Him, thinking it did not pay.”

7. 1. Self-Control
2 Pet. 1:5-6
[5] And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; [6] And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;

8. The Christian must control his lusts, appetites, passions, desires for power, wealth --- even control those things necessary for one to live

9. Prov. 16:32
[32] He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.

10. 2. Self-Denial
Mt. 16:24
[24] Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

11. NOTE that it is self we are to deny – meaning that no longer is one to be concerned with self and his own will, but the will of the Lord
We must make ourselves secondary for the benefit of others

12. We must love Christ more than anything or anyone, including self
Mt. 10:37
[37] He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.

13. 3. Obedience
Jn.14:15
[15] If ye love me, keep my commandments.

14. Mt. 25:21
[21] His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

15. Faithfulness demands obedience!
We should do what the Lord wants because the wants it
We must not be obedient only when it is convenient

16. 4. Enemies We will have enemies if we follow Christ 1 Jn. 3:13
[13] Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you.

17. 2 Tim. 3:12
[12] Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

18. II. Benefits of living the Christian life

19. 1. Fellowship
We have the sweetness of joint participation, sharing, being together, working as fellow laborers, giving and receiving comfort, etc.

20. Amos 3:3
[3] Can two walk together, except they be agreed?

21. Ps. 133:1
[1] Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!

22. “If but two things I could keep, and could retain no other, I want the friendship of my Lord, and then my Christian brother.”

23. 2. Protection
As Christians we can know that we are safe from any real harm
We will have trials, persecutions, dangers, disappointments, temptation to sin, etc.

24. Js. 1:13
[13] Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:

25. 1 Cor. 10:13
[13] There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

26. Rom. 8:31
[31] What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?

27. 3. Providence God knows what we need in life
We have the promise that if we seek His kingdom and righteousness first – (His church and His commandments) God will provide for us

28. Mt. 6:33
[33] But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

29. Gen. 45:7
[7] And God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance.

30. Ps. 37:25
[25] I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.

31. 4. Benefit of serving God
“Serving Christ also provides an outlet for one of man’s greatest eartly needs and that is rendering service to someone or something else other than himself.”
We have the joy of service in Christ

32. We receive blessings by being a blessing
Doing a good deed makes the heart glad

33. Acts 20:35
[35] I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.

34. Mt. 20:28
[28] Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

35. 5. Contentment
We are not to become so self-satisfied that we stop growing as Christians --- but we are urged to be content with what we have

36. 1 Tim. 6:8
[8] And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.

37. Heb. 13:5
5 Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

38. Phil. 4:7
[7] And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

39. Christianity is not designed to bring us material wealth, power, great social standing, popularity, etc. --- We must not hold out to others such things as material rewards in this life for serving Christ

40. In fact – serving Christ may cause us to lose such things
God promises to supply our needs and not our wants

41. We have all the benefits and blessings mentioned in this sermon (and many others as well)
ALL THIS, AND HEAVEN, TOO!!!

42. Jn. 10:10
[10] ….. I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.