The reward for your prayer, fasting and sacrifice in ministry is not actually material things. It’s something of much higher value…

“For I am the LORD your God, The Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I have given Egypt as your ransom, Cush and Seba in your place. Since you are precious and honoured in my sight, and because I love you, I will give people in exchange for you, nations in exchange for your life” (Isaiah 43:3–4, NASB).

This passage from Isaiah reveals an amazing principle: Your life is precious to God and you are of great value. As you lay down your life in prayer, fasting, and even persecution, for the sake of the gospel, God will reward you with something of equal value or greater—a life, lives, and even nations. 

This kind of thinking contradicts some extremist views that money, cars, and material wealth is your inheritance. The reality is that material wealth is merely a byproduct or blessing that sometimes accompanies Kingdom living. In God’s eyes however, your life is of such great value and your sacrifice for those God has called you to reach is so holy and precious that mere paper and material things could never be an eternal reward for all you have been through. God must reward you with something of equal value or greater—a life, lives, and even nations. We can put this demand on God in prayer and petition. We can put our faith there, to fulfill the great Commission. 

- Derek Schneider