How Is Your Soul?

For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?

(Mark 8:36)

Meditation

Do you know anyone who spends all of their time and effort chasing after money, status, and material possessions? The majority of the people in this world will make the mistake of worshiping these false gods. Our whole economic system is based around the accumulation of more things. You might say that you need to earn money to survive and that’s true. The problem comes when your wants outweigh your needs. It’s okay to want certain things, but to make consumption your only goal in life is wasteful and foolish. In order to attain this goal, you have to spend more and more time doing whatever it is you do to earn the money. Going through life foolishly thinking that next new possession will make you happy.

For the sake of argument, let’s say you manage to get everything you’ve ever wanted. A villa, high up on a hill overlooking a pristine valley. You have a very good-looking spouse and two children that you hardly ever see because you’re always working. You own a small fleet of expensive vehicles that you barely ever drive. You have more bank accounts than anyone you know but you think you need more. You vacation in far off exotic locations but are consumed with checking the futures and stock markets the whole time you’re there. Does this sound like a happy person to you? Do you really think any of those things are going to matter to them after they pass from thins life?

Scriptures say, tomorrow is promised to no one. Everything you’ve spent your time accumulating will be left behind when you’re gone. On that day you will find yourself standing in judgment before Jesus without excuse or explanation. Jesus isn’t going to ask you how much stuff you collected in your life. He’s not going to want to know about your stock portfolio. He won’t be impressed with the business you built. He’s not going to listen to your excuses as to why you rejected him and the offer of salvation. He’s not going to find your name written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. You will have given him no choice but to send you to the Lake of Fire. It’s while you’re still here on earth that you should repent and turn to Jesus Christ. He offers you riches you cannot earn. They can only be found at the foot of the cross. Once you pass from this life it’s too late. 

Prayer Time

Father God when we consider how wonderful you are, we must bow in awe before you. You are the creator and keeper of all that is good and wholesome. Father we live in a very materialistic world where money is our god. We are constantly being drawn to do whatever it takes to make more money so we can possess everything this world has to offer. We ask you, dear Lord, to grant us the wisdom to realize when we’ve got enough stuff. Take from our hearts the desire for material possessions that do nothing to bring us closer to you. Remind us that we may not have tomorrow, so we’d better concentrate on what’s important, you! Show us, Lord, that what you have to offer has much more value than the trinkets of this world. Everything we possess here will rust or decay, but what you give is eternal. Please give us generous hearts, that we share with the poor and less fortunate. Teach us about the mission field all over the world that we might support with our finances. Help us to walk through life in a way that is righteous and pleasing to you. We ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen!