“For what profits a man if he gains the whole world but loses his own soul?”Matthew 16:26, Mark 8:36, Luke 9:25
This is a simple yet profound question.
To gain the whole world is to receive all the world has to offer—money, fame, pleasure, power, prestige, etc.
To lose our soul means to trade/ forfeit our soul by giving it to Satan and doing evil/ harm to gain the riches that the world has to offer.
There is nothing more valuable than a person’s soul and to trade that away is the epitome of foolishness. Many people turn to yoga, gurus, “feel-good” seminars legitimately looking for ways to fill the empty void it their lives. Others turn to alcohol, drugs, or prostitutes in their search for ways to either deaden the pain or find a source of intimacy that is missing. Yet none of the above will provide the sense of peace for which we are all searching. We need to remember that our physical lives don’t last forever, while our souls will last an eternity.
After Jesus had fasted for 40 days in the desert and was at His weakest, Lucifer/Satan tempted him by offering Him all the riches, and all the kingdoms of the world if Jesus would bow and worship him, but Jesus knew better.
Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.” Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.’ Matthew 4: 8-10
There are examples in the bible where men forfeited their souls for temporary gains. Esau gave up his birthright for a bowl of stew (Genesis 25:33); Judas sold the Savior for a few pieces of silver (Matthew 26: 14-16); Demas loved this present world and forsook the ministry (2 Timothy 4:10). All three men thought they were gaining something but actually lost everything.
Many people today try to gain wealth, power and success by their own means and through their own strength. It can be easy to forget that all we have and everything we do comes only as a result of God’s grace. Deuteronomy 8:18 reminds us that it is God who gives the ability to produce wealth, yet so many people have the attitude and thinking that their wealth comes primarily from their hard work. As a result, these people find it hard to submit to God’s will when called to change course, to be generous when God calls them to be generous, or to say no to corruption and cheating when it promises more wealth.
When we chase after earthly blessings as the primary motive of our lives and apart from the will of God, we forfeit the being of our souls. As a result, our souls start lacking the love, compassion, peace, gentleness, patience and self-control that comes only when we abide in Christ. We start living our lives as if our money and fame will last forever when the truth is that it cannot even compare to the blessing of eternity when we make Christ our prize.
When God is our reward, He adds everything we need to it. When Jesus is all we want and desire, we never go hungry, never lack money, never lose influence and never leave the path of success. Proverbs 10:22 says, “The blessing of the LORD makes rich, and he adds no sorrow with it.”
God wants us to gain the world, but never at the expense of losing our relationship with God. We are called to seek God first in all that we do and allow Him to add the world unto our plates.
#lifestyle, #character, #soul, #riches, #profit