[Mark 8:36 KJV] “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?“
I want to teach on the theme “How to gain both!” and shed light on one of the most misunderstood text of the teachings of Christ; one of the teaching that ends with the rhetorical question; what is the real use of gaining the world and losing your soul?
There are a few things that we need to draw our attention to:
The Lord didn’t say, if you gain the world, you lose your soul
What the Lord Jesus Christ was teaching was the truth that, if you seek and change the world, you will lose both the world and your soul; but if you seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, you will both gain the world and your soul.
[Matthew 6:31-34 KJV] “Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.”
“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.”
What the Lord is saying is “why lose your soul while running after the world, when you can gain both the world and your soul by seeking the Lord!”
“Then Peter said, Lo, we have left all, and followed thee. And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of God’s sake, who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come life everlasting.” (Luke 18:28-30 KJV)
What the Lord is saying is “if in this life only that we have hope in Christ, then, we are of all men most miserable.”
“If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.” (1 Corinthians 15:19 KJV)
The things possible to you must be more than earthly gain. You must have things that exist in eternity. There are two lives: this life and the life to come; we must strive to have a portion in both lives. We must have a portion in the land of the living and also in eternity.
What is your net worth?
What is the use of being the richest man on earth, when you have no treasures or assets in the life to come?
Listen! We must strive to build both treasure on earth and in heaven. We must seek the kingdom of God and and his righteousness first. First things first!
Should you wake up tomorrow morning and set off to work, to play, or to do anything; let it be at the back of your mind that I am seeking a kingdom whose builder and designer is God. Let that be at the back of your minds and you will never be poor.
That is how Abraham lived and he become wealthy, without losing heaven.
“By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: for he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God”. (Hebrews 11:8-10 KJV)
Our father Abraham sought for a country whose builder and designer is God; and he both found the land and prospered!
“And Abram went up out of Egypt, he, and his wife, and all that he had, and Lot with him, into the south. And Abram was very rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold. And he went on his journeys from the south even to Beth-el, unto the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Beth-el and Hai; unto the place of the altar, which he had made there at the first: and there Abram called on the name of the LORD. And Lot also, which went with Abram, had flocks, and herds, and tents.”
“And the land was not able to bear them, that they might dwell together: for their substance was great, so that they could not dwell together. And there was a strife between the herdmen of Abram’s cattle and the herdmen of Lot’s cattle: and the Canaanite and the Perizzite dwelled then in the land.”
“And Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdmen and thy herdmen; for we be brethren. Is not the whole land before thee? separate thyself, I pray thee, from me: if thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if thou depart to the right hand, then I will go to the left.”
“And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered every where, before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar. Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan; and Lot journeyed east: and they separated themselves the one from the other.” (Genesis 13:1-11 KJV)
Listen! There are lots of people who play smart; when you ask them to escort you to a party, they will overtake and lock you out; but I admonish you to play godly in all you do.
Whether it is making career decisions, or decisions in marriage, life, money, settling conflict or dispute, always first consider the kingdom and your soul. There is nothing as valuable as your soul. I am not suggesting that you go to sleep; I am commanding you to live your life but play godly!
Stay blessed
