For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? – Mark 8:36
Stuff—everybody has it. Yours may be books, cars, golf clubs, the latest kitchen appliances, or electronic devices. You may have even greater stuff. You might own a second or third house, boats, businesses, or acreage. Suppose all of it was gone tomorrow in some great catastrophic event. Just over a year ago, the people of Lahaina had homes and businesses destroyed in a sudden fire that ravaged the historic Maui Island town. Billions of dollars of possessions went up in flames. Sadly, it was also the deadliest wildfire in modern United States history. Those who did escape knew they held the one thing that was most precious… their very lives.
In Mark 6, Jesus has been telling His disciples there is a cost in following Him. “Let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me,” He says in verse 34. The Lord explains to them the value of one’s life as priceless. He compares the value of one soul to the value of all the “stuff” the world has to offer. Even if you could stockpile all the wealth of the world, what good will it do you eternally? New Testament Professor Dr. Grant Osborne said, “There are no options more important than these: temporary gain that brings eternal loss versus temporary loss that produces eternal gain. Every human being is faced with the alternatives, and none matter more than these. To opt for the temporary is to face constant uncertainty and anxiety, for this world will never be our friend. More importantly, to choose the earthly over the heavenly will result in the greatest loss imaginable, the loss of eternal life.”
Dr. J. C. Ryle adds, “The whole world cannot make up to a man the loss of his soul. The possession of all the treasures that the world contains would not compete for eternal ruin.” While you may find temporary satisfaction in your things, they do not last. Only God can satisfy the soul. Jesus alone offers true abundance in life. “The fear of the Lord leads to life, and whoever has it rests satisfied” (Proverbs 19:23). Invest yourself in securing a closer walk with the Lord, who holds your life in His hands. He does not measure your life by the abundance of your possessions but by the abundance of your love for Him.
Today’s Verse: Mark 8:36
For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Recommended for further reading: Luke 12:13-21
13 Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” 14 But he said to him, “Man, who made me a judge or arbitrator over you?” 15 And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” 16 And he told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man produced plentifully, 17 and he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’ 18 And he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. 19 And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.”’ 20 But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ 21 So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.”
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
