How much is "Worthy" worth?

I'm deep in Hebrews 11 these days. What a chapter! The next two weeks feature me doing something I've never done in the pulpit. I'll be using the same text for two weeks. It's Hebrews 11:32-40 and boy what a text it is. Feast your spirit on these eternal words ...

"And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the prophets, who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. Women received back their dead, raised to life again. Others were tortured and refused to be released, so that they might gain a better resurrection. Some faced jeers and flogging, while still others were chained and put in prison. They were stoned; they were sawed in two; they were put to death by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated—the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground. These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised. God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect." 

After spending even a little time in the company of these verses, it's hard to whine about anything in my situation. One thing I know, I've got no license to complain about anything associated with ministry. If I don't have a backbone, it's time to grow one! Perseverance has no competition. I want to be worthy of those of whom the world was not and is not worthy. 

Oh, also, after reading these verses ... so much for the so-called prosperity gospel. Worldly prosperity will never hold a candle to the something better - better resurrection of Christ!