Summer 2001
Is The Pain Worth The Gain
Ann Moore

“These things I have spoken to you, that you should not be
made to stumble. They will put you out of the synagogues;
yes, the time is coming that whoever kills you will think
that he offers God service.” John 16:1-2 NKJ.

Cain and Abel were brothers. Abel was a keeper of sheep and Cain, a tiller of the ground. When it came time for them to bring their offerings to God, Abel was obedient and gave a blood offering. Cain gave of the fruit of the ground.

The Lord accepted Abel's offering, but did not accept the offering from Cain. Cain became jealous of Abel and killed him. There are those today in the Church who become jealous of another, and in many ways, kill them. The Lord told us in advance that this would happen. And, it seems to happen especially to the Lord’s hidden ones. (Psalm 83:1-4).

The Lord has those who, at any cost, are willing to be obedient and do what the Lord is asking of them. As Abel was obedient to give the offering that God asked of him, so we also must be obedient to the Holy Spirit, when he speaks to us.

When we began to yield to the Lord, He will make known to us that He has accepted that which we are willing to do by our obedience. Just as with Cain and Abel, a spirit will rise up against us, through those who are not fully committed to follow the Lord.

“The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down
into the innermost parts of the belly.” Proverbs 18:8.

These words are meant to kill, just as Cain killed Abel. Knowing that there is an enemy who will react to our obedience to the Lord, and that there are those who will allow themselves to be used to inflict hurt, is the pain worth the gain?

In the heart of any believer who has seen the beauty of the Lord, is the desire to enter into a deeply personal relationship with Him. These will seek after the Lord with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength. Those who are unwilling to make such a commitment, will react against the expressed desire of those who have fallen in love with their Lord and intently seek after Him.

Knowing this, is what you see before you great enough that you are willing, no matter the cost, no matter the pain, to keep pressing toward it? Can we say with Paul,

“I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling
of God in Christ Jesus.” Phil 3:14.

As Jesus said in John 16:1-2, even though we may suffer by words and acts of others, we must not allow ourselves to be offended, nor allow these things to affect our spirit. We must settle within ourselves the fact that - “the pain is worth the gain.”