"What's in it for me?"

Have you ever found yourself pondering that? In the movie Field of Dreams, Kevin Costner plays the role of an Iowa farmer named Ray Kinsella, who eventually asks that very question, “What’s in it for me?” Let me try to set it up for you…

Kinsella had been obedient to a mysterious voice that told him to build a baseball diamond in the midst of his cornfields. He also listened as this voice led him across the country on a road trip where he wound up kidnapping a renowned author along the way, only to have the bank threatening to foreclose on his family’s farm upon his return. His neighbors think he's crazy and his brother-in-law is pressuring him to sell the farm before it is too late. For Ray, it feels like he has done all that has been asked of him, even without fully understanding why, and yet there has really been nothing in return. Hence his question of, “What’s in it for me?”

Although we read of Noah (Hebrews 11:7, Genesis 6:13-22) and Abraham (Hebrews 11:8, Genesis 12:1-4) and other men and women of faith that were obedient to God without having all the details, we can sometimes find ourselves feeling like Ray Kinsella. We've seemingly done all that’s been asked of us and yet the difficulties of life still exist. There is a struggle to make ends meet, endurance to persevere through trials, no clear sign of progress, and plenty of opposition along the way. Our toil seems to be in vain… And why have we done all of this? What is our reward? We’ve been well-behaved, trusted against unfavorable odds, seemingly risked it all…and for what?

Well, in the film Ray finally discovers the purpose of his labor. And it turns out all of his efforts were for something far greater than he could have ever imagined. Sure he was able to see the ghost of Shoeless Joe Jackson with many of his peers and enjoyed some cool experiences as he engaged his calling. However, Ray's ultimate prize was getting to see his father - being able to have a catch with his dad.

We are not promised a life of ease, comfort, health, wealth, or anything of the like. In fact the only thing we can be certain of is that there will indeed be obstacles and times of adversity here on earth. Sometimes we can be tempted to misjudge the circumstances of today as a loss of God’s favor. But may I remind those of you that are in Christ of your promised treasure. Similar to the Iowa farmer, our reward is far greater than anything we could ever fathom. We get our heavenly Father & we have His Spirit living in us now!! We get Him today and for all of eternity! Rain or shine, sickness or health, poverty or plenty, your best or your worst, you get Him. So…“What’s in it for me?” Answer: He is.