Let’s be honest. Living for Christ isn’t always easy. Some days, it feels like swimming upstream—going against everything the world says matters. Success, status, wealth, comfort, personal happiness—these are the things people chase. And sometimes, when you’re doing your best to live for Jesus, it feels like you’re falling behind.
You watch others climb the ladder while you choose integrity and patience. You see people cut corners and get ahead while you try to do things the right way. You feel the weight of obedience when no one else seems to care.
And there are moments—maybe more than you’d like to admit—when you wonder if it’s all worth it.
If you’ve ever thought that, you’re not alone.
But here’s the thing—God never promised this life would be easy. What He did promise was reward. Not the temporary kind, not the kind that fades, but something deeper. Something lasting. Something worth far more than anything this world can offer.
And if we really believed that? If we truly understood that living for Christ doesn’t leave us empty—it fills us with everything that actually matters?
We’d stop hesitating. We’d stop chasing the things that don’t satisfy. We’d stop wondering if we’re missing out and realize that a life spent on Him is never wasted.
The Wrong Kind of Reward
If you think about it, everyone is living for a reward.
Some people chase money, convinced that if they could just earn a little more, they’d finally feel secure. Others crave recognition, bending over backward to impress people who probably won’t even remember their name in five years. Some live for comfort, doing everything in their power to avoid struggle, pain, or inconvenience.
But the problem with these rewards? They don’t last.
The money runs out. The recognition fades. The comfort never fully satisfies. No matter how much you have, you always feel like you need a little more.
And if we’re not careful, we fall into the same trap—chasing things that don’t matter, all while convincing ourselves we’re still living for Jesus.
It’s easy to say we’re following Christ. But if we took an honest look at where our time, energy, and devotion go, would it tell the same story?
I’ve had to ask myself that question more times than I’d like to admit.
Because here’s the uncomfortable truth—sometimes, we’re living for rewards that have nothing to do with God.
We say we want to follow Christ, but deep down, we still want success.
We say we trust God, but we still chase security.
We say we want to be obedient, but we hesitate when obedience costs us something.
And that’s when the doubts creep in. Is this really worth it?
The Reward That Lasts
Jesus didn’t sugarcoat what it means to follow Him. He made it clear—it will cost you.
“If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” (Luke 9:23)
That doesn’t sound comfortable. It doesn’t sound easy. But He didn’t stop there.
“For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.” (Luke 9:24)
In other words? The reward of following Christ is far greater than anything you give up.
It may not always feel that way in the moment. But ask anyone who has chosen obedience over convenience, faith over fear, integrity over compromise—and they’ll tell you the same thing.
God always makes it worth it.
The reward isn’t just in heaven (though that’s part of it). It’s in the deep peace that comes from knowing you’re right where He wants you. It’s in the strength you didn’t know you had. It’s in the unshakable joy that doesn’t depend on circumstances.
And if you’ve ever tasted that, even for a moment, you know—there’s nothing better.
Living for Christ in the Everyday
It’s easy to talk about living for Christ in big, dramatic ways—giving up everything to become a missionary, leaving a lucrative career to serve in ministry, making a bold stand for faith when the world pushes back.
But most of the time? It’s the small, daily choices that shape who we are.
Living for Christ looks like:
- Choosing honesty when a lie would be easier.
- Loving the difficult people when they don’t deserve it.
- Trusting God when nothing makes sense.
- Serving when you’d rather be comfortable.
- Saying yes to obedience when no one is watching.
It’s not always dramatic. No one may ever applaud you for it. But every single one of those choices matters.
No Regrets
At the end of your life, you won’t wish you had spent more time chasing things that didn’t matter.
You won’t wish you had worked more hours just to make a little extra money.
You won’t wish you had earned more recognition from people who barely remember your name.
You won’t wish you had played it safer, clung a little tighter to comfort, or lived a little less boldly for Christ.
You’ll wish you had trusted Him more.
You’ll wish you had lived with more faith.
You’ll wish you had poured your life into what actually lasts.
And the best part? You still have time to do that.
So if you’ve been hesitating, if you’ve been holding back, if you’ve been wondering if it’s really worth it—hear this:
A life lived for Christ is never wasted. And you will never regret choosing Him.
Ever.
