Profit

As we look at our society, everyone is driven by something. The number one driving passion is success. Everyone wants to succeed in what they do. In school, we want to succeed so we can get into a good college; then in college, we want to succeed so we can get the career we want; and once we enter that career, we want to succeed so we can make money. Then that money shouts success to everyone around us.

This mindset has been in man since the very beginning of creation; it is in our DNA. But then Jesus comes into the world, and those things that we once thought were important pale in comparison to what the Lord offers. Not only is what Jesus has to offer amazing, but how to receive it is mind-blowing. Because for the first time we are told that there is nothing we can do to earn what Christ has to offer.

Mark 8:34-37, “And He summoned the crowd with His disciples, and said to them, 'If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. 35 For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it. 36 For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul? 37 For what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” Christ totally blows up the system that man has always invested in to get what they wanted. To be a follower of Jesus, to be His disciple, there is no earning, but giving. There is a forfeit of our desires and plans, even our very lives, so that we may receive the eternal life that only Jesus, the Son of God, can offer.

Then Jesus throws out this question, “What will a man give in exchange for his soul?” What is more important to you than your soul? What does the world have to offer that is worth going to hell for?
Sadly, many don’t think about the value of their soul and eternity. But God does. He found us so valuable that He came in the form of man to take all our sins upon Himself so that we can be redeemed. If the God of the universe finds us that valuable, why do we find the things of this world more valuable that we are willing to go to hell over them?  What are you willing to forfeit your soul for? Is it a little bit of money that will someday be in someone else’s pocket? Is your soul worth that big house that someone else will own someday?

What does it profit you if you gain the whole world and lose your soul? What is your soul worth? To the Lord, you are worth everything that you are worth dying for.