Today's discussion question: How do you feel when you hear Jesus say these things?
What good is it for someone to gain the whole world,
yet forfeit their soul?
These two questions hold to each other like the two sides of a coin. The thoughts are opposite each other. Nothing in the world equals the value of a soul. In fact, one full second of whole world ownership if you die immediately upon gaining it is worthless. The absolute poverty of death necessarily means one can possess nothing that will buy back a lost life.
Notice the interchange of "life" for "soul." The Greek manuscripts use only one word for these two English terms in our text. Actually, Jesus says if you want to gain your "breath" you have to lose it. Then Jesus says if you give up your "breath" for the whole world you've lost everything. Don't let the two English words confuse you.
Jesus is talking about both our physical life and our eternal life. Understand too, that Jesus is not talking about trading your "ticket to heaven" for "the world." Countless stories have been told about "deals made with the devil." Jesus really doesn't seem to be pointing out to us what a mistake it would be to "buy" riches, pleasure or power here in this life by paying with our eternal salvation. I'm not even sure that is theologically possible.
Jesus seems to be wanting us to consider how we are spending this life. When you finish life, will anything you possess buy it back? Will the pursuit of pleasure, possessions or power leave you without a meaningful legacy? Will a life spent in Kingdom service leave you a meaningful legacy?
As a response to this thought today, consider the spiritual practice of throwing away accumulated junk.
Are you with me out there?
Tell us about your hopes & goals for 40 Days 'Till Easter.
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