40 Days of Faith: Day 26

Hebrews11:26 – He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward.

I remember as a kid, that my mom once received a Christmas bonus that was different. It was special, bigger, beyond what was normal. My mom was a legal secretary at a large law firm in downtown Houston. She had been working long hours that year and would often have to stay at work until nine or ten o’clock at night.

When the bonus came, Christmas was special, bigger, and beyond what was normal. I remember one of us asked her about it and she said it came from the Howard Hughes estate. I had heard of Howard Hughes but didn’t know a lot about him. I only knew that Hughes was a wealthy recluse who died a miserable death.

Howard Hughes (1905–1976) was one of the wealthiest and most famous men of the 20th century. He was a business magnate, inheriting a fortune from his father’s oil tool company. He was an aviation pioneer, setting multiple flying records and building advanced aircraft.
Hughes produced and directed films, many that were controversial and high grossing. He was a real estate tycoon, buying huge amounts of land and casinos in Las Vegas.

He lived a life of extravagance, celebrity, and innovation—often in the headlines, hobnobbing with movie stars, and reshaping industries. At one point, he owned parts of TWA Airlines, RKO Pictures, and numerous hotels and casinos.

This sounds amazing, doesn’t it? Despite his wealth and fame, Hughes’ life unraveled in extraordinary ways:

• Mental Health Decline: He developed severe obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), germophobia, and increasing paranoia.
• Addiction: Hughes became addicted to painkillers and drugs after a plane crash.
• Isolation: For the last decades of his life, he lived in dark hotel rooms, avoided daylight, and interacted with others only through notes or phone calls—even with his closest aides.
• Personal Hygiene: He let his hair and nails grow long, refused to bathe, and lived in unsanitary conditions—despite access to unlimited luxury.
• Death: He died in 1976 at the age of 70. Autopsy reports showed he was emaciated, suffering from malnutrition and kidney failure. He weighed just 90 pounds at death.

 
Hughes had everything the world celebrates—money, fame, power, women, adventure—but ended his life lonely, broken, and tormented. He is a stark reminder of Jesus’ words in Mark 8:36 which say, “For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?”

As the writer of Hebrews shows us the faith-driven movement of Moses, he makes a statement that is significant. Notice again our verse today. It says, “He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward.”

The treasures of Egypt had to be incredible. They are the things that museums put on display. As a son of the princess, Moses had all that he could ever want or need. His inheritance would have been far greater than that of Howard Hughes.

But Moses “considered.” This word means to evaluate and reckon. The word “reproach” means insult or disparagement. In other words, Moses looked across the landscape of his life as a prince in Egypt and saw the suffering of his family and people and concluded that it would be better to be no one with nothing, tending sheep, than to live in luxury while his people were oppressed.

Moses saw the temporary nature of Egypt and the eternal nature of walking in relationship with the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and he concluded that this was the greater reward.

As we come to our time of conclusion today, let me point you to 1 Corinthians 3:10-15.

According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it. 11 For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw— 13 each one's work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. 14 If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.

This portion speaks to how we build upon the foundation of Christ in our life. It speaks to the materials that we use in building our lives, the judgement seat of Christ and the fire that will test the work we have done. Notice now verse 14. It says, “If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward.” Moses evaluated and reckoned that this reward would be far greater than the earthly pleasures of Egypt and he went for it. He didn’t pursue that which was empty. No, he pursued the One who would bestow on him honor and reward that would never perish, spoil, or fade, for he knew that this was true success.

Will we chase the world’s definition of success, or will we pursue God’s best—building on the foundation of Jesus with what will last forever? Today, take a moment to evaluate your own pursuits. What are you building your life upon—wood, hay, and stubble, or gold, silver, and precious stones? Choose to live for the reward that only God can give, for that is true success.

Prayer:
Father, thank You for reminding me today that true success is not measured by wealth, fame, or possessions, but by faithfulness to You. Forgive me for the times I have been tempted to pursue what is temporary rather than what is eternal. Teach me to evaluate my life with wisdom, as Moses did, and to consider the reward of walking with Christ greater than all the treasures this world can offer. Strengthen me to live with eternity in mind, building my life on the solid foundation of Jesus. May everything I do bring You glory and stand the test of fire on the Day of Christ. In His name I pray, Amen.